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Philippine authorities release over 1,000 victims of crypto-fraud

Philippine authorities said they released more than a thousand citizens of several Asian countries who were forced to engage in crypto-fraud.
Michelle Sabino of the Philippine National Police cybercrime unit said police raided several buildings in Mabalacat City, about 90 kilometers north of Manila.
There were found 1,090 people recruited for online fraud. The creators of the illegal business confiscated the passports of unfortunates and forced them to work 18 hours a day.

“People were like prisoners, only without cameras..

They weren’t even allowed to talk to their roommates.

They were forbidden to go out of the gate.

After 6 p.m., they were taken to the dormitory,” Sabino says.

According to police, the victims were mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Indonesian nationals.

The officer claims that the target of the fraud was U.S., European, and Canadian nationals. They had to be enticed to buy cryptocurrency and keep the crypto pyramid going.

Twelve suspects were arrested in the organization of the illegal business and will soon be charged with human trafficking.

Among them are seven Chinese nationals, four Indonesians, and one Malaysian national.

Earlier, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) checked Exeter, Nottingham and Sheffield for illegal crypto machines.

Checks were conducted with the participation of local law enforcement agencies. The regulator is now reviewing the information gathered to decide how to proceed;

In April, a U.S. District Court sentenced a 35-year-old New Hampshire resident accused of illegal activities to a year and a half in prison for cryptocurrency transactions.