Cybercrime Crackdown: Over 5,000 Arrested

Scam Watch Pilipinas partners with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group. Pictured (L-R): Jocel de Guzman (Co-Founder), PBGen. Bernard R. Yang (PNP ACG Director), and Art Samaniego Jr. (Co-Founder). (Image courtesy of Art Samaniego Jr.)

Cybercrime Crackdown: Over 5,000 Arrested

By Wilma N. Yamzon – Thenationweek.com  

June 27, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has reported a surge in arrests related to online crimes, with over 5,000 individuals apprehended in the first half of 2025.

The arrests reflect both the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals and the intensified efforts by authorities to combat scams, fraud, and identity theft across digital platforms.

From January to mid-June this year, the PNP-ACG arrested 5,099 individuals for various online offenses, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said during a recent public briefing.

Yang attributed the rise in cybercrime to the growing accessibility and anonymity afforded by digital platforms.

POGO Connection Fuels Online Scams

A concerning trend revealed by the PNP-ACG is the link between former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees and the surge in online scams.

With POGO firms shutting down due to a nationwide ban, authorities have observed a number of former employees, including security guards, turning to cybercrime as a new source of income.

“Many of those arrested previously worked for POGOs,” Yang explained.

“After POGO operations ceased, they engaged in online scams,” he added.

SIM Card Abuse Rampant

Investigations also showed the widespread misuse of SIM cards in criminal operations.

In several cases, suspects were found possessing over 100 pre-registered SIM cards, raising questions about the enforcement of the SIM Registration Act.

“We apprehended an individual with over a hundred registered SIM cards,” Yang noted.

“This brings the question of how a single person can register so many,” he said.

Combating Cybercrime: A Multi-Agency Approach

The PNP-ACG is actively collaborating with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to identify and block suspicious SIM cards and numbers used in cybercrime activities.

“We report these cases to the NTC so those numbers can be blocked,” Yang said.

To further strengthen the fight against cybercrime, the PNP-ACG is calling for stricter enforcement of the SIM Registration Act, proposing a cap on the number of SIM cards an individual can own.

It is also pushing for increased regulation of social media platforms under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, requiring companies to establish physical offices in the Philippines.

Fake PSA Calls, e-Wallet Thefts on the Rise

The PNP has also received reports of scammers impersonating representatives from government agencies, such as the Philippine Statistics Authority, in an attempt to steal information tied to national ID details or e-wallet accounts.

“While the victims are still on the call, their e-wallets are already being drained,” Yang warned.

Authorities stressed the need to identify and prosecute individuals behind online scams, in addition to blocking their numbers.

President Marcos Jr. Targeted in AI-Generated Scam

The sophistication of cybercriminals extends to the use of artificial intelligence.

Yang addressed recent concerns about a video generated by AI that falsely depicts President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. endorsing online investment platforms.

“Upon receiving the video, we coordinated with the social media platform and requested its removal,” he stated.

Public Vigilance is Key

With the increasing cybercrime scams, the PNP-ACG urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid sharing personal information with strangers, and verify the source of any suspicious communications.