The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) led raids against an alleged illegal operation engaged in online raffles being streamed live on Facebook and another involved in love and cryptocurrency scams.

The first raid, conducted by the PAGCOR security group and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) inside a subdivision in Biñan, Laguna, resulted in the arrest of 16 people who were running the online raffle on Facebook through their FB Page named Lucky Dream 4.

According to PAGCOR Senior Vice President for Security Cluster Raul Villanueva, Lucky Dream 4, which has 111,000 followers on Facebook, has been conducting live online raffles that offered second-hand modified motorcycles as prizes.

He revealed, “In one raffle event, the group can sell an average of 40,000 to 50,000 tickets, with each ticket costing 40 pesos. They have amassed over PHP8 million from the time they started this illegal online operation.”

“Karamihan sa miyembro ng grupong ito ay kabataan. Ang pinaka-matanda sa kanila ay 27 years old pa lang,” he noted.

“The Lucky Dream 4 group is obviously engaged in an illegal online gaming activity. Negosyo na ang ginagawa nila. They need to secure a license from PAGCOR if they want to operate an online gaming platform,” Villanueva clarified.

In the second raid, conducted by PAGCOR and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) inside a house in Multinational Village, Parañaque, 10 Chinese nationals were arrested for engaging in love-and-cryptocurrency scams.

Authorities explain that in love and cryptocurrency scams, also called love scams or crypto romance scams, unsuspecting people are approached by individuals who pretend to be friendly, then converse with them romantically, and later lure them into sending money online or investing in cryptocurrencies, which eventually turn out to be fraud.

The arrested Chinese nationals were charged with violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act or RA 9208), Alien Registration Act (RA 562) and Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175). Nine Filipino females whom they allegedly forced to perform unlawful activities under the scam were rescued by the authorities.

The raiders also confiscated around 75 mobile phones, 30 desktop computers, 50 laptop computers, assorted credit cards, two cars and one motorcycle.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco emphasized that the arrests are part of the state gaming agency’s intensified campaign against illegal online gambling and other illicit activities through strengthened collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

“We have been receiving reports of illegal online activities including those in social media platforms. As the country’s gaming regulator, it is our duty to protect the public – especially the youth — from these illegal online gambling sites,” he declared.

📷 PAGCOR FB