The National Bureau of Investigation has called on residents and homeowners associations in high-end subdivisions to be vigilant against Chinese-led scam hubs that have reportedly transferred their operations inside guarded and gated residential villages in the country.

This, after agents of the NBI-Criminal Intelligence Division raided a house in Angeles City, Pampanga where online scam operations were being hosted.

Operatives of the NBI-CRID caught suspects in the act of scamming their victims through online transactions using multiple laptop and desktop computers.

Five suspects, all Chinese nationals, were taken to the NBI headquarters for interrogation.

NBI Asst. Director Noel Bocaling of the intelligence service many scammers, mostly Chinese nationals, have made subdivisions havens in their illegal transactions.

They started hiding in high-end subdivisions after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned the operation of Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators in the country.

Following Marcos’ decision, law enforcement authorities, including the NBI, started hunting down POGO operators who also conduct scamming activities through the cyberspace.

According to Bocaling suspects usually offer homeowners using their properties rental fees that are at least 30 to 50 percent higher than the regular rates.

The lessees usually do not reveal the nature of their businesses to the owners.

The Angeles City raid was part of a larger manhunt for a Chinese national identified only as “Big Boss”, reportedly a gangster who earns his living by protecting scam operators.

The Big Boss is linked to the murder of another Chinese national and a Filipino several months ago.