{"id":16752,"date":"2023-01-23T04:45:42","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T04:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/philippine-authorities-rescue-alleged-victims-of-crypto-trafficking-ring-featured-bitcoin-news\/"},"modified":"2023-01-23T04:45:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T04:45:42","slug":"philippine-authorities-rescue-alleged-victims-of-crypto-trafficking-ring-featured-bitcoin-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/philippine-authorities-rescue-alleged-victims-of-crypto-trafficking-ring-featured-bitcoin-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Philippine Authorities Rescue Alleged Victims of ‘Crypto Trafficking Ring’ \u2013 Featured Bitcoin News"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Originally posted on : Bitcoin News )<\/b>
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Philippine authorities say that they have rescued alleged victims of a \u201ccrypto trafficking ring\u201d who were recruited to work in a call center in Cambodia and scam people out of their cryptocurrencies. The authorities are also investigating government employees who may have assisted crypto trafficking syndicates.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alleged Victims of \u2018Crypto Trafficking Ring\u2019 Rescued<\/h2>\n

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI)\u2019s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) announced Friday that it has rescued six alleged victims of a \u201ccryptocurrency trafficking ring,\u201d the Philippine government-owned news agency reported.<\/p>\n

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco explained that BI officers intercepted the alleged victims as they were about to board a plane to Phnom Penh on Jan. 15. Noting that these passengers had fake return tickets, the commissioner said they gave \u201cinconsistent answers\u201d to questions asked by BI officers, \u201cwhich raised suspicions that they were merely disguised as tourists but their purpose is to work abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ann Camille Mina, TCEU\u2019s acting head, commented:<\/p>\n

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Eventually, they admitted that they will be working in a call center in Cambodia and were recruited through Facebook.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Authorities Probe Government Officials<\/h2>\n

Tansingco pledged to take action against any BI employees involved with crypto trafficking syndicates. He noted that the immigration officer who cleared the passengers for departure has been relieved from her duties pending the outcome of an investigation. The commissioner opined:<\/p>\n

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We want to also help locate and arrest those illegal recruiters that entice employees to take part in their illegal scheme \u2026 They are the root of this societal problem and they must also be arrested for this crime.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Bureau of Immigration is currently investigating at least three persons of interest in the case, said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval. Regarding whether this crypto trafficking case is related to human trafficking syndicates in Cambodia and Myanmar, she admitted: \u201cThat\u2019s what worries us. It seems to be related.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crypto crime syndicates have been recruiting unsuspecting victims to work in call centers, particularly in Asian countries, and scam people on social media and dating apps. One of the most common tasks for trafficked victims is \u201cpig butchering,\u201d a type of crypto scam. According to a report<\/a> by Propublica:<\/p>\n

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Tens of thousands of people from across Asia have been coerced into defrauding people in America and around the world out of millions of dollars. Those who resist face beatings, food deprivation or worse.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

U.S. authorities have repeatedly warned that the pig butchering crypto scam is becoming alarmingly popular<\/a>. In November last year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seized<\/a> seven domain names used in pig butchering schemes. \u201cBe very careful when you go on social media and dating apps and somebody starts developing a relationship with you, and wants you to start investing \u2026 Don\u2019t get butchered,\u201d an FBI official has warned<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do you think about Philippine authorities rescuing alleged victims of a crypto trafficking ring? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\nKevin Helms <\/h6>\n

\nA student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography.

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Image Credits<\/b>: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons<\/em><\/p>\n

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