QUEZON CITY, Philippines—Various reports said that the National Bureau of Investigation arrested 44 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals on Thursday, November 29, for violation of Republic Act No. 8484, also known as the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998. Said foreign nationals went through inquest proceedings as carried out by the Department of Justice.

The suspects were arrested in two separate operations conducted in Quezon City – one at Don Antonio Heights and the other at White Plains. Law enforcement authorities were able to confiscate scheming devices used for credit card fraud. The suspects allegedly hacked the account of credit card holders through their online purchases to create fake versions of the card.

In August of this year, 357 nationals from China and Taiwan were also arrested in cybercrime raids conducted by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), along with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, targeting 20 houses in Antipolo, Manila, Marikina, Rizal, and Quezon City.

Initial investigation revealed that daily operation of the group engaged in financial and telecom fraud is worth 20 million. The CIDG described the series of raids as the “biggest and most resolute operation” against cybercrime in the country, various sources said.