THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided an alleged love scam hub in Makati City, uncovering a sophisticated operation that used artificial intelligence (AI) to lure unsuspecting victims from Europe and the Middle East.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 167 Filipinos and two Chinese citizens who were caught in the act of scamming. Authorities discovered automated scripts on desktops and mobile phones used to respond to victims, along with unregistered SIM cards for mobile phones.
NBI National Capital Region director Ferdinand Lavin stated that the suspects are being investigated for possible violations of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
One of the Filipino suspects revealed that their group has been operating for almost three years, targeting an average of three foreigners daily.
The NBI issued a warning to Filipino workers involved in scam hubs, urging them not to be lured by the promise of quick money, as it will ultimately harm them in the long run.
