BI Dismantles Large-Scale Online Scam in Makati, Arrests 86 Foreign Nationals

On April 10, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) uncovered a major online scam ring in Makati City, apprehending 86 foreign nationals. The group included 82 Chinese, three Malaysians, and one Vietnamese, all detained during a raid at a condominium on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Brgy. Pio del Pilar. The operation was a joint effort between the BI‘s Fugitive Search Unit and the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-NCRFU), acting on a mission order from Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado after tips pointed to a scam hideout.

Viado addressed the issue head-on, stressing the dangers of such illegal setups. “This operation highlights the continuing threat posed by illegal aliens who exploit digital platforms to scam and defraud innocent victims across borders,” he stated. He added that foreigners working without permits, especially in crimes like these, pose a grave risk to the countrys laws and safety.

The breakthrough came when CIDG-NCRFU got a frantic WhatsApp message from a Chinese national, saying he was trapped at his workplace with no way out. Digging deeper, authorities learned the group was running e-commerce cons and fake romance schemes to trick people into sending money. They used sham online deals and fabricated dating profiles to hook victims, promising goods or relationships that never materialized, leaving victims empty-handed.

When BI agents stormed the site, they found 86 people hunched over computers, clearly tied to the scam. Not one could show legal papers to justify their stay or work in the Philippines, sealing their status as violators. The scene painted a picture of a calculated effort to fleece unsuspecting targets through digital deception.

Right now, the arrested group is being processed with paperwork and bookings. Soon, they‘ll be moved to the BI Warden’s Facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig to face deportation hearings. This bold move by the BI shows their resolve to stamp out cybercrime and keep the nation secure, sending a clear warning to anyone thinking they can hide behind screens to break the law.