THE Philippine National Police (PNP) today urged the public to avail of its Project E-ACCESS or the Enhanced Anti-Cybercrime Campaign, Education, Safety and Security to help prevent cybercrimes and avoid falling prey to cybercriminals.
Barely a week after its launch, the PNP has already scored big with the arrest of 41 individuals allegedly involved in cybersex operations during simultaneous operations of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in three different locations in Valenzuela City and Batangas on July 13, 2021.
In a report to PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar, ACG Director Police BGen. Robert Rodriguez said they successfully busted the cybersex activities of the suspects, disguised as legitimate call center representatives operating in commercial establishments in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City and Lipa City, Batangas and in a residential area in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
The suspects, says PGen. Eleazar, disguised themselves as US -based young and attractive males and females and blocked the victims’ online registration after taking at least 50 US dollars from each credit card account.
“Investigation disclosed that these cybersex syndicates are victimizing LGBT members by offering erotic massage services where they can only avail after paying certain registration fees using credit cards,” said PGen Eleazar.
He said the operation stemmed from information received from a concerned citizen via the E-ACCESS regarding suspicious call center activities in the mentioned locations.
Launched on July 8, Project E-ACCESS aims to strengthen the campaign against cybercrime by providing an informative and convenient platform for cybercrime prevention awareness which the public can easily access.
He said that since its launch, has been viewed 5,027 times and has had 2,025 visitors who verified the possible use of mobile phone numbers, email addresses, or social media accounts in the 5,367 cases entered into the Anti-Cybercrime Group’s database.
According to Eleazar, E-ACCESS has two components: Cybercrime Watch and Cyber Web.
Records showed that there were 14 hits in queries by visitors to the system, which meant that there were 14 persons who were spared from falling prey to cybercriminals.
“Cybercrime Watch aims to inform netizens if an online account or mobile phone number has been previously used in committing cybercrimes, particularly financial fraud, so they could avoid falling victim,” PGen Eleazar explained.
On the other hand, Cyber “Web” has also identified 81 individual online accounts used by cybercriminals which were reported by different victims in multiple ACG units. This would mean that if a suspect will be arrested, all complaints, wherein the same account was reported by different victims, will be solved.
“Thus, this innovation in law enforcement is expected to increase the cybercrime solution efficiency of PNP ACG. The Cybercrime Watch also provides a reporting system if the suspect’s account that has victimized them is not yet encoded in the system for appropriate action.”
He said the move is to increase the ACG’s cybercrime solution efficiency rate by building a central database of complaints filed against cybercriminals in all 16 regional offices of the unit nationwide.
According to the PNP Chief, “May access ang lahat ng opisina ng ACG sa central database na ito kaya’t magiging mas efficient ang kanilang cyber patrolling at magiging madali ang pag-trace at paghuli sa mga suspek.”
(PHOTO CREDIT: PNP-PIO)