17 Taiwanese nabbed in Cebu love scam

MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen Taiwan nationals, believed to be members of a Taiwanese criminal ring involved in a love scam operation, were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Cebu.

Sixteen men and a woman were apprehended on May 15 in a high-end subdivision in the city, according to NBI Special Task Force agent Rainier dela Cruz.

He said the suspects are believed to be members of the “Four Seas” gang, a known criminal group in Taiwan.

Six of them reportedly have standing arrest warrants in Taiwan for cases related to illegal drugs, money laundering and money conversion.

Seized during the operation were 17 computers, 23 mobile phones and two cryptocurrency wallets believed to be used in executing the so-called love or romance scam.

The NBI said the operation was conducted following a request from the Naval Intelligence and Security Group.

Authorities tracked the suspects after one of them, who has an arrest warrant, booked a flight from Manila to Cebu.

The suspects face charges for violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, as well as for alleged involvement in social engineering schemes and economic sabotage.