Filipino Scammers Rise from Offshore Gaming Operators
MANILA, Philippines — Most online scammers recently arrested by authorities in the Philippines are Filipinos who learned their tactics while working at Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). This trend highlights a troubling link between the rise of cybercrime and the Pogo industry, local officials said.
“We can no longer say it’s still linked to Pogos. Our fellow citizens have learned. They’re doing it by themselves,” explained the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang during a forum at Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
Scammers Continue Despite Pogo Closures
Yang added, “Put another way, they may have worked there previously. But when it closed, they learned and they went on their own. Based on our statistics, most of the people we arrest are Filipinos. Only seven of those we arrested are foreign nationals.”
While Yang did not provide an exact number of Filipinos arrested for online scams, he reported that from December 2024 to June 20, 2025, the PNP-ACG apprehended 608 individuals involved in various cybercrimes. Among them, 116 were convicted.
Common Cybercrimes Linked to Scam Networks
The offenses include selling pre-registered SIM cards, violating Republic Act 11934 (the SIM Registration Act), as well as breaches of RA 12010 (the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act) and RA 8484 (the Access Devices Regulation Act). These laws aim to curb cyber scams and protect consumers.
Last April, authorities revealed that some former Pogo workers retrieved electronic devices from scam hubs. They either used these gadgets to continue fraudulent schemes or sold them to others, sources said.
Government Responds to Scam Hub Disorder
Citing the chaos caused by scam hubs, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a ban on all Pogos during his State of the Nation Address in July 2024. This decisive move aims to address the root of the growing cybercrime problem linked to offshore gaming activities.
For more news and updates on online scams, visit Filipinokami.com.