Philippines deports 67 Chinese nationals involved in fraud

Philippines deports 67 Chinese nationals involved in electronic fraud

'They were deported for being undocumented aliens, which stemmed from the cancellation of their passports by the Chinese government'

By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspndent
Published: 20:56 October 5, 2011

Manila: The Philippines immigration bureau has deported 67 Chinese nationals on suspicion that the foreigners are involved in various types sophisticated electronic fraud.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. bared that the foreigners were deported to Beijing last Friday night (Sept. 30) aboard a special flight chartered by the Chinese embassy in Manila.

"They were deported for being undocumented aliens, which stemmed from the cancellation of their passports by the Chinese government," the immigration chief said in a statement released Wednesday.

The foreigners, who were allegedly involved in telecommunictions, internet and credit card fraud. They were barred from re-entering the Philippines.

The Chinese nationals were expelled on the basis of a summary deportation order issued by the immigration bureau last Sept. 28.

Bureau of Immigration law and investigation division chief Arvin Santos said the Chinese nationals were arrested last Sept. 28 by immigration and and National Bureau of Investigation agents at their safehouses in the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong.

The report did not clearely states the exact cases the accused Chinese nationals had been filed with but its is common local knowledge that the suburbs of San Juan and Mandaluyong hosts a number of foreigners of Chinese origin.

These Chinese nationals operate businesses related to electronics and communications.

According to the Bureau of Immigrations, the operation operations against the foreigners were conducted after informants tipped authorities about the syndicate's illegal activities.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy informed the Bureau of Immigration that the suspects were recruited by a China-based syndicate. The apparent victims have been enticed into migrating to the Philippines on promises of high-paying jobs upon their arrival in Manila.

According to immigrations investigation chief Santos, the occassuib was not the first time that authorities stumbled upon a syndicate ran by Chinese and Taiwanese nationals engaged in high-tech swindling activities that prey on victims via the internet.

"Their modus operandi is similar to a call center syndicate wherein prospective customers in China and Taiwan are contacted and enticed to buy goods and services via online banking. Afterwards, the victims' money are diverted to the syndicate's account," Santos added.

Philippine laws concerning telecommunictions, internet and credit card fraud are in its infancy and foreign syndicates are taking advantage of shortcoming in the country laws to evade arrest and prosecution.

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippi ... d-1.885779