Malaysians allegedly involved in a “love scam” were arrested and seven Filipinos were rescued at Henrietta Village, Barangay Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City, on Thursday, March 27.
The Malaysians identified only as alias “Sam Phoon,” 60, and alias “Abao” who is in his late 20’s were charged for violation of human trafficking before the Bacolod City Prosecutors Office, PMaj. Justin Noel Josol, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod, said.
They were arrested by virtue of a search warrant, following CIDG surveillance operations for more than a month.
The suspects rented a house which they used as a studio to lure victims who are foreign nationals through online dating apps.
With the help of the complainant who was a former employee of the suspects, the joint operation of the CIDG with the Bacolod City Police Office and Department of Social Services and Development led to the arrest of the two foreigners.
The employees were given false job offers and were not compensated
Bacolod models were also recruited and their pictures were used in false accounts in the dating site, Josol said.
The employees were made to pretend that they were the models whose pictures were posted to lure and engage with the foreigners who visit the site, he said.
The CIDG investigation indicates that the Malaysians had been operating the “love scam” for more than a year.
The Malaysia, who had expired visas, are believed to have cohorts in other countries, Josol said.*