THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported the arrest, in separate operations, of seven
Chinese nationals in Parañaque and Quezon City for credit card fraud and attempting to bribe authorities for their release.
Sun Jie and Lee Ching Ho were first apprehended in Parañaque City, while five accomplices were arrested during an entrapment operation in Quezon City.
The five accomplice allegedly tried to bribe NBI operatives with P1.5 million for the release of their colleagues.
The five suspects were identified as Jenny Pan, Zhao Zheng, Dong Jianhua, Yuan Bien, and Shao Wen Hu.
Their arrests followed multiple complaints linking them to various fraudulent activities, including vishing, smishing, phishing, click-baiting, pretexting, and whaling, which led to unauthorized access to and use of victims’ credit card information.
The group allegedly used the stolen information to withdraw funds from hacked accounts.
To expedite the cashing out process, they reportedly provided accomplices with Point-of-Sale (POS) devices, offering them 20% of the amount upon conversion to cash.
Posing as accomplices with a POS device, NBI operatives agreed to meet the suspects for an entrapment operation on July 27, 2024 in Parañaque City.
This resulted in the arrest of Jie and Ho. But the former allegedly offered Php 1.5 million to the operatives for their release and the dismissal of charges.
Jie claimed his associates were willing to raise the amount and personally deliver it.
The operatives set up another entrapment operation, where the associates agreed to meet at the NBI Main Office parking lot in Quezon City.
Two vehicles arrived, and a suspect handed a bag of money to an operative, requesting the release of the arrested individuals.
Operatives then arrested the suspects and found three handguns and a military-grade smoke grenade in the vehicle. The individuals failed to produce licenses or papers for the firearms.
The suspects face charges for violations of Section 3(s) of Republic Act No. 11449 (Access Devices Regulation Act), Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code (Corruption of Public Officials), and Republic Act No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Act).
