BULACAN — Two Chinese nationals were arrested by police in Bulacan after being caught parked near a cell tower, allegedly using high-tech equipment to siphon off data from nearby phones and devices for scamming operations, police said Tuesday.

The suspects, Fengxiang Zhao and Shijun Teng, were apprehended inside a parked vehicle near a cell site in Baliwag by operatives from the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Inside the vehicle, authorities found an electronic device that appeared innocuous but was actually capable of intercepting and storing information from mobile phones, computers, and other gadgets in the area.

“Ito po ay isang electronic equipment na capable po siya mag-intercept, mag-store and mag-utilize ng information na na-obtain po from various communication devices such as cellphone, computers, etc… Para po siyang cell site simulator na imitate niya po yung cell tower,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Milgrace Driz, CIDG Bulacan Provincial Officer.

The device, which police say functions like a fake cell tower, was allegedly used to harvest private data, later exploited in online scams.

The two suspects remained silent when questioned, offering only a weak defense that they were just “installers.”

“Itong isa po actually parang dito na naninirahan sa Pilipinas, at itong isa po ay isang fugitive po ng China. No comment sila, installer lang daw sila. From China, may nagpapadala sa kanila sa Pilipinas,” Driz added.

“Pwede niyang magamit ito sa panloloko, pag scam… ‘Yung mga information po natin na makukuha sa isang cell tower po,” she explained, highlighting the danger such technology poses to ordinary citizens’ data.

Authorities stated that charges have already been filed and are now under review by the Department of Justice.

“Nafile-an na po natin sila ng kaso pending sa DOJ, Department of Justice… Mayroon na po silang hinain na preliminary investigation,” Driz confirmed.

📷 CIDG-Bulacan