14 Indian Nationals Busted Running a ₱1-Billion Scam Hub Out of a Luxury Villa in Clark, Pampanga
A luxury villa inside Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga turned out to be anything but luxurious for the victims of the 14 Indian nationals who were arrested there this week. The NBI-National Capital Region raided the exclusive property after a two-month surveillance operation revealed it was being used as a full-blown international scam hub.
The suspects weren't targeting Filipinos — they were scamming their own kababayan back in India and victims in other countries. Their playbook included love scams, cryptocurrency scams, and the increasingly common 'digital arrest scam,' where victims are tricked into believing they're being detained online by authorities.
NBI agent John Bacho explained how the operation worked: the scammers would target vulnerable people like retirees and those looking for online relationships, convince them to click phishing links, open bank accounts, and then steal their sensitive personal information including OTPs and account numbers. Some suspects even locked themselves in their rooms during the raid, pero nahulog din eventually.
The NBI estimates the group has raked in more than ₱1 billion from their victims since they started operating in the Philippines back in 2022. Agents seized computers, routers, cellphones, and other gadgets used in the scam operation.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag sent a clear warning to foreign nationals eyeing the Philippines as a base for illegal activities: 'Hindi natin papayagan.' The 14 suspects now face multiple criminal charges and have yet to issue any statement.
Source: GMA News
