A Malaysian national believed to be a key supplier of a device used in large-scale text scams was arrested in a joint operation by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
Authorities identified the suspect as the alleged leader of a syndicate selling International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, electronic tools designed to trace and intercept mobile phone communications.
The CICC began monitoring the suspect’s company in October last year, carefully tracking its activities until they were certain of the suspect’s involvement before executing the operation.
IMSI catchers, also known as “Stingrays” or rogue cell towers, function by imitating legitimate cell towers to deceive nearby mobile devices into connecting with them. Once connected, the device collects IMSI numbers, enabling the operator to track location, monitor activity, and intercept text messages, calls, and data traffic.
Investigators revealed that these devices are commonly used in text scams, tricking victims into sharing personal information and enabling large-scale fraud operations.
“This arrest is a significant breakthrough in our fight against cybercrime and text scams that target the public,” said a CICC representative.
Authorities vowed to continue cracking down on syndicates using advanced technology to commit crimes, urging the public to remain vigilant against scams.
