Former Pogo guard arrested for selling fake cell towers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested a Philippine offshore gaming operator’s ex-security guard for selling fake cell towers.
In a press conference at Camp Crame, ACG chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said an entrapment on Thursday led to the arrest of a 40-year-old suspect with the alias, “Dante.”
READ: Authorities arrest Malaysian allegedly supplying IMSI scamming devices
The Philippine News Agency says he was offering an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher worth ₱600,000 on social media.
“Sa pag cyber patrol nila, they were able to chance upon yung nagbebenta nito,” Brig. Gen. Yang said.
“Ito ay nakita sa isang social media platform na kung saan yung grupo ay galing doon sa mga former POGO employees or operators.”
(During their cyber patrol, they were able to chance upon the seller. This was seen on a social media platform where the group is from former Pogo employees or operators.)
IMSIs are also known as rogue cell towers, cell site simulators, drop boxes, and “stingrays.”
They collect the IMSI numbers of mobile devices, allowing scammers to track their owners’ locations and activity.
For example, cybercriminals gain access to their text messages, calls, and data traffic.
As a result, the IMSI catcher lets them send scam messages en masse without needing databases, SIM cards, or Wi-Fi.
The ACG chief warns malicious individuals can also use fake cell towers for scamming, election campaigning, and spreading disinformation.
The suspect will face charges for violating the following laws:
- Cybercrime Prevention Act
- Data Privacy Act
- Philippine Radio Station and Radio Communication Act
- Subscriber Identity Module (SiM) Registration Act
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy stated that IMSI catchers could also give electoral candidates an advantage by facilitating text blasts.
