MANILA – Four individuals were arrested in separate operations by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for their involvement in the illegal sale of pre-registered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards. The arrests occurred in Laguna province and Quezon City.
Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, acting chief of the ACG, reported that the arrests stemmed from cyberpatrolling efforts, which led to the identification and apprehension of the suspects between January 13 and 14.
In Laguna, the Calabarzon police’s anti-cybercrime unit detected a suspect who was advertising a bundle that included a fully verified e-wallet account and a SIM card for PHP800. An officer arranged a meeting with the suspect and an accomplice, who were both arrested in Cabuyao town, Laguna, at 4:40 p.m. on January 13.
In Quezon City, another suspect identified as “JP” was selling an e-wallet account, an ATM card, and an online banking account for PHP3,000. The suspect was apprehended after meeting with an undercover officer posing as a buyer on Mayon Street at 12:58 p.m. on January 14.
Later that afternoon, around 2:32 p.m., the Northern Police District and Quezon City Police District’s anti-cybercrime units arrested a third suspect, “Arvin,” for selling a registered SIM card with a verified e-wallet account. This transaction was conducted along General Araneta Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City, for PHP2,300.
The arrested suspects now face charges for violations of the SIM Registration Act, Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The sale of these pre-registered SIM cards is illegal, as they can be used for text scams or to create fake social media accounts for fraudulent activities.
Yang urged the public to avoid engaging in such illegal transactions, as the sale of pre-registered SIM cards is punishable by law, with severe penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. He emphasized the importance of following the law to protect oneself and curb the spread of cybercrime.
