Globe Telecom files charges vs 13 WIMAX fraudsters

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom has filed charges against 13 individuals involved in the illegal sale and installation of hacked Globe WIMAX modems and Tattoo sticks since the start of the year.

Twelve of these individuals have been charged with cases for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulations Act, while the last one was charged with theft.

In most of the cases, the modus operandi has been to pull out the WIMAX modem from legitimate subscribers on pretext of an upgrade. The modems are then reconfigured and sold at a one-time cost payment. 

“We want to warn the public that Globe, in close coordination with the police, will continue to be relentless in pursuing its campaign against illegal sale and hacking of our WIMAX modems. This is a clear violation of RA 8484, also known as Access Device Act, and Presidential Decree 1612 of the Anti-Fencing Law,” said lawyer Froilan Castelo, head of Globe’s Corporate and Legal Services Group.

According to Castelo, such unscrupulous activities not only undermine the company’s broadband business but also adversely affect legitimate subscribers from whom the WIMAX modems are taken.

He added those who are found guilty of violating the law will have to pay a fine of P24,000 and faces imprisonment of up to six years.

The first arrest for the year involved an entrapment operation conducted in February at the SM North Reclamation area in Cebu City that resulted in the apprehension of Ian Niel Abenir and Dominic Zabala, who had offered a Globe employee a lifetime Internet connection for only P3,500 using a hacked WIMAX modem. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of two more individuals, identified as Paul Lacaron and Danilo Manataf.

Another entrapment operation conducted in April in Novaliches, Quezon City led to the arrest of John Paul Capili for trying to sell a cloned WIMAX modem, also for P3,500. Two units of WIMAX modems were confiscated from Capili.

In the same month, an entrapment operation conducted in Dasmariñas, Cavite led to the arrest and filing of charges against Jose Narcida, who was also involved in the illegal hacking and sale of Globe modems. An associate of Narcida, Reynald Denapo, was also arrested but was categorized as a witness against Narcida.

Also in April, an entrapment operation conducted by police and Globe security personnel led to the arrest of two Visatech employees, identified as Mark Villanueva and Francisco Espino, and Christopher Viado, a sales agent of JV Marketing, for the illegal sale and installation of WIMAX modems. Three units of WIMAX modems were seized from the suspects.

In early May, another joint operation by police and Globe security personnel led to the arrest of Pedro Quias in Quezon City. Quias was reportedly engaged in the activation of Globe WIMAX modems after pulling out the units from unsuspecting subscribers. A flash drive containing various applications, operating systems used in reconfiguring and activating MAC addresses was seized from him.

A follow-up operation by the police in Quezon City led to the arrest of Rodel Ancheta, a cellphone technician. Police seized from him 17 WIMAX modems, and other Internet paraphernalia.

The latest arrest took place in late May during an entrapment operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan which led to the arrest of Carlo de Ocampo, a cellphone technician, for trying to sell a Globe WIMAX modem for P5,000.