OPERATIVES of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) have arrested 83 collection agents of a Manila-based money lending company allegedly sending threatening messages to delinquent borrowers to force them to pay their debts.
In a statement, ACG said the suspects were nabbed during a raid of the online lending company in Barangay 497 in Sampaloc, Manila at around 11:30 a.m. last Friday.
ACG said it conducted the raid, in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Manila Police District, by virtue of a warrant to search, seize and examine data issued by a court.
The ACG said the warrant authorized the ACG “to search and seize pieces of digital evidence that were allegedly used by the loan shark company in its lending scheme with usurious rates.
“Customers who (fell victim) to this OLA (online lending agency), experienced public humiliation and harassment coupled with threats and illegal access to their phones’ contact list when customers cannot pay on time,” the ACG said.
It said the suspects “were caught in the act of sending threatening messages to customers while some were unlawfully accessing the clients’ personal information which is posted online with libelous remarks.”
