Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — A Taiwanese national and his two Filipino cohorts were arrested Wednesday night after selling some 7,000 registered SIM (subscriber identity module), the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said Thursday.
Police said the suspects were apprehended in their residence in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan from a tip about their illegal operation.
The PNP-ACG said the suspects have been buying previously used SIM, especially those with verified digital wallets, since last year.
These are then sold to scammers who will use them for fraudulent transactions, it added.
\”Itong mga SIM card na ito ay pinu-purchase nila sa halagang ₱400 ‘pag registered and verified ang digital wallet like with GCash, kasi kailangan yung sim card pang-scam,\” said PNP-ACG spokesperson PCpt. Michelle Sabino.
[Translation: These SIM cards are being purchased for ₱400 if they are registered and have a verified digital wallet like with GCash, because they will be used for a scam.]
The PNP-ACG said the registered SIM are mostly bought from people in the provinces in need of cash.
The police warned that people selling SIM will also be held liable.
\”Yung pananagutan niyo dito is once nagamit ang inyong SIM card, kasi registered under your name, kayo ang hahabulin ng kapulisan or local police kasi sayo nagli-lead,\” Sabino said.
[Translation: Once your SIM card registered under your name was used for illegal transactions, the police can trace it back to you.]
