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7 Chinese nationals accused of credit card fraud, bribing NBI operatives arrested

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1722327879135453410335_506941291725576_6928073417812773206_n.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="7 Chinese nationals accused of credit card fraud, bribing NBI operatives arrested"/>7 Chinese nationals accused of credit card fraud and bribing NBI operatives were arrested. NBI photo</div>MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation over the weekend arrested seven Chinese nationals who allegedly attempted to bribe the agency&#x27;s operatives with P1.5 million in exchange for their release. They were earlier arrested by the NBI Cybercrime Division operatives in Parañaque for credit card fraud related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).Numerous individuals complained of unauthorized or illegal access and use of their credit card credentials without their knowledge, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in a release Tuesday.He added that a group of foreigners classified as a Transnational Organized Crime group had been cashing out money through socially engineered credit card credentials drawn from their victims&#x27; accounts, mostly offshore accounts.To expedite cashing out, the TOC group used a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and gave their accomplices 20 percent of the amount upon cash conversion, the NBI said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/6/26/protect-yourself-from-data-leaks-941">RELATED: Protect yourself from data leaks</a></div>Acting on the information, undercover agents pretended to possess the needed POS device and showed willingness to conspire, it said, adding the two parties agreed to meet to carry out the scheme.The NBI then conducted an entrapment operation on July 27 in Parañaque City, which resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals. One of them offered P1.5 million in exchange for their release and termination of the criminal charges against them, the NBI said.He even said that his associates were willing to raise the amount and bring it personally if they would be released, it said.Operatives agreed to the bribery scheme and set up an entrapment operation. That night on Saturday, the exchange was arranged to take place in the parking lot of the NBI Main Office in Quezon City. Two vehicles arrived, and a man who appeared to be Chinese exited one of the cars. He handed a bag of money to one of the operatives and requested the release of the arrested individuals. &quot;Considering that the crime of corruption of public officials had been committed, said individual was arrested together with his cohorts inside the vehicles,&quot; the NBI said.&quot;Upon search of the vehicle, three (3) handguns with military-grade smoke-grenade were found. When asked about its licenses and papers, arrested individuals failed to produce any.&quot;<div>—with a report from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News</div>

The National Bureau of Investigation over the weekend arrested seven Chinese nationals who allegedly attempted to bribe the agency's operatives with P1.5 million in exchange for their release.

The National Bureau of Investigation over the weekend arrested seven Chinese nationals who allegedly attempted to bribe the agency's operatives with P1.5 million in exchange for their release.