In a series of coordinated operations, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested 18 foreign nationals—eight Chinese and 10 Vietnamese—in Parañaque City for their involvement in various online financial scams.
The arrests were carried out by the NBI-National Capital Region, under the leadership of Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.) and Regional Director Ferdinand M. Lavin. The suspects were engaged in a range of illicit activities, including investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and identity theft.
The operation followed intelligence reports confirming the suspects’ illegal activities. Surveillance operations validated these claims, prompting the NBI to seek a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data (WSSECD). The court granted the warrant, and on January 15 and 17, 2025, NBI agents seized computers, phishing templates, and financial transaction records tied to the scam operations.
The arrested individuals were identified as Phan Viet Ngân, Do Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duc Anh, Phan Kim Sang, Vo Hong Sy, Nguyen Van Khanh, and Doan Van Dung (all Vietnamese), along with Zhang Ming Yi, Xin Yao Huang, Himen Chen, Hwang Xiaobin (still at large), Xiao Li, Chuan Zi Gao, Ming Ru Li, Wen Shu Liu, Qui Shun Li, Cai Li Pan, Changfu Liu, and Zhang Zhen Hong (all Chinese).
The suspects face charges under Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and RA 12010, or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act. The NBI has emphasized its ongoing commitment to protecting the public from fraudulent schemes and warned that additional legal actions are forthcoming.
