4 Koreans nabbed over 'phishing scam'

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested on Thursday four Koreans involved in a "voice phishing" scam.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, commander of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group, identified the arrested Koreans as Jhee Kim alias "Jien Jia"; Leon Lee Su, Byeongha Moon and Ho Kim Jim.

Sosa said the four Koreans were arrested by the PNP-ACG's Cyber Response Team in an operation in BF Homes, Paranaque City.

The suspects were arrested by virture of warrants of arrest issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24 Presiding Judge Lyliha Abella Aquino.

They were ordered arrested for violation of Section 9 (j) in relation to Section 10, 11 and 14 of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.

Seized from the suspects were several laptops, computers, other media devices, telephone sets, passbooks,different credit and debit cards, and different identification cards used allegedly intended to be used in their illegal activities.

Sosa said that another Korean, Lee Sang Hun, filed the complaint against the suspects.

The victim said he was vacationing in the country when he met with Jien Jia, who promised to help him whenever he would expernece any problem during his stay in the country.

The victim said he was duped into giving Jien Jia his sister's phone number in Korea.

Jien Jia allegedly called up the complainant's sister and asked her to send 50,000,000 won (P2 million) for victim who was supposed to be in a serious physical condition.

Sosa said that the suspects have been involved in similar scams that victimizes their fellow Koreans.