PHILIPPINES (TR) – Philippine authorities here over the weekend announced the arrest of three Japanese men and women suspected of involvement in fraud and other crimes, reports TBS News (Feb. 22).
According to the announcement, the three Japanese men and women, aged in their 20s to 40s, were detained in Pampanga province on the northern island of Luzon on February 18 on suspicion of violating immigration laws.
The trio is suspected of being involved in a ring that specializes in tokushu sagi, or specialized fraud, which is carried out on the telephone by a caller impersonating an authority figure or a victim’s relative.
A Chinese man who is believed to be the manager of their fraud base was also apprehended.
The four are believed to have been involved in online scams and kidnapping-for-ransom schemes. They have reportedly admitted to their involvement in the fraud.
Philippine authorities say that their investigation began with a tip-off from the Japanese embassy. They plan to uncover the true nature of this international criminal ring.
