131 online scammers arrested in past 2 years

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 131 online scammers were arrested across the country in the past two years of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s intensified drive against cybercriminals.

Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia, anti-cybercrime group (ACG) director, said 66 of the scammers rounded up from 2022 to 2023 were apprehended in entrapment operations.

The other 65 persons, he added, were apprehended based on warrants of arrest issued by various courts.

The ACG also filed 284 cases for swindling or estafa in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Law.

President Marcos recently ordered the PNP to adapt and effectively respond to cyber threats.

Hernia noted that online scams are an evolving threat in the digital age wherein perpetrators use email, social media and other online platforms to get to their victims.

Among the challenges the police faced in going after cyber criminals and scammers is their ability to use fictitious accounts and identities, making them hard to identify.

Responding to the challenges, the ACG is employing sophisticated techniques and collaborating with stakeholders to trace, apprehend and prosecute suspects.

“While the allure of quick financial gain may seem tempting, the reality is that online scams not only harm innocent victims but also carry severe legal consequences,” he said, as he warned online scammers to stop their nefarious activities as the ACG would not stop until they are put in jail.