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BackPhilippines thought Pogos were gone. Corruption and AI still power them
Philippines thought Pogos were gone. Corruption and AI still power them
Developing
SCMP Economy1 hour agoCrime1 min readChina

Philippines thought Pogos were gone. Corruption and AI still power them

philippinesmakati cityzamboanga sibugay

Quick Look

Philippine authorities raided call center-style facilities in Makati City and Zamboanga Sibugay, arresting over 360 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, in connection with an alleged illegal trading and 'lust scam' operation involving blackmail through explicit videos.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The Philippines has been cracking down on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) due to links to illegal activities, including fraud, human trafficking, and cybercrime, prompting increased raids and deportations.

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In September, the National Bureau of Investigation raided a call centre-style facility in Makati City, arresting more than 120 Chinese nationals linked to an alleged illegal trading and a “lust scam” that tricked local and foreign victims into sharing explicit videos, which were later used to blackmail them.

The enforcement blitz continued this month as police swooped down on twin scam hubs in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

About 244 foreigners, mostly Chinese citizens along with two Cambodians, were arrested in the operation dubbed the “largest Pogo bust”. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the suspects were housed at one of the raided properties while undergoing identity verification before deportation.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • Deportation proceedings will begin for the arrested foreigners following identity verification.

    Very likely · Within days

  • Further raids on POGO-linked facilities may occur in other regions of the Philippines.

    Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

  • What specific charges will the arrested individuals face?
  • Are any of the suspects facing prosecution in the Philippines, or will all be deported?
  • How were the explicit videos obtained and distributed in the blackmail scheme?
  • Are there connections between these scam hubs and other criminal networks in Southeast Asia?

Related Topics

philippines
OrganizationsNational Bureau of InvestigationBureau of Immigration
PlacesMakati CityZamboanga SibugayPhilippines
Topicsmakati cityzamboanga sibugaychinese nationalspogo bustlust scamblackmail
This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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