Scam hub

A video on the internet recently shocked the Cebuano community. It featured a “white hacker” --a cyber vigilante who breaks into the systems of companies believed to be engaged in illegal activities. One such company he exposed was reportedly based in Cebu City, initially operating from a building in Barangay Apas before relocating to another site in Barangay Kasambagan. The operation’s modus was to deceive foreigners like South Africans into investing in so-called “quantum artificial intelligence.” The pitch promised miraculous returns on investment, offering instant wealth that seemed too good to be true. And of course, it was.

The video thumbnail showed several individuals, their faces clearly caught by CCTV. Almost instantly, their images spread across the internet, captioned with harsh words about their poor choices and involvement in illicit activity. The police, in cooperation with the Cebu City government, quickly moved to shut down the establishment. But according to reports, the company had already ceased operations three days before the video went viral. The people seen in the footage have yet to be formally identified.

What struck me most were the overwhelming responses I received from individuals who claimed to know about similar scamming operations in Cebu. Many recounted being offered jobs at supposed business process outsourcing companies, only to discover later that they were unknowingly participating in fraudulent schemes. While we may not have the full picture of how these hiring processes unfold, my sources shared that employees often choose to stay quiet and follow orders, afraid to lose their livelihood. The truth is, for many Cebuanos, holding onto a job --even one shrouded in secrecy-- is essential for survival. This reveals a deeper issue: not everyone in our city has access to fair and sustainable employment opportunities.

Government agencies must work hand-in-hand to put a stop to these scams. We cannot proudly call ourselves a rising urban center while illegal enterprises hide behind polished office spaces. These businesses may look legitimate, but in reality, they serve as facades for criminal activity. Imagine international authorities arriving on our soil to arrest our fellow Cebuanos. It would be a national disgrace and a stain on our city’s reputation. There is an urgent need to ramp up intelligence work, monitor suspicious operations more aggressively, and dismantle these scam hubs at the root.

The internet, while incredibly useful, has proven to be equally dangerous. It has become a gateway for criminal acts, victimizing innocent people from across the world. Sometimes I wonder how these scammers manage to sleep at night, knowing they’re stealing from others. There is no shortcut to success; real wealth is built through honest, consistent effort. That work must be grounded in integrity --not in deception or harm.

As citizens, we must support our law enforcers, who are doing their best despite limited resources. They are calling those with information to help, to come forward in exchange for confidentiality. Everyone must stay vigilant. We cannot just allow Cebu to be branded as the scam capital of the Philippines.