PRESS STATEMENT
July 21, 2026
NBI ARRESTS THREE FILIPINOS FOR THE ILLEGAL SALE OF PRE-REGISTERED SIM CARDS; NIGERIAN NATIONAL FOR COMPUTER-RELATED IDENTITY THEFT AND COMPUTER-RELATED FRAUD
Pasay City – Following the directive of NBI Director Atty. Melvin A. Matibag, the NBI Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD), intensified its campaign against online fraud. This effort led to a series of operations, which culminated in the arrest of three Filipinos for selling pre-registered SIM cards, as well as one Nigerian national for identity theft and computer-related fraud associated with an online “love scam” operation.
The operation was initiated due to ongoing cyber surveillance and a thorough investigation by NBI-CCD agents, which revealed that pre-registered SIM cards were being sold to operators of POGO, scam hubs, illegal online lending application (OLA) collection agents, and other cybercriminals.
On July 9, 2026, agents from the NBI-CCD conducted an entrapment operation at a mall in Pasay City, resulting in the arrest of an individual selling pre-registered SIM cards. During the operation, the arrested subject revealed through her social media account that another delivery of pre-registered SIM cards was scheduled for Makati City to an African national who had previously purchased pre-registered SIM cards from her on several occasions.
On an even date, a follow-up operation was conducted to apprehend the foreign national. A controlled delivery was initiated in the residence of the African national in a condominium in Makati City, which resulted in his arrest. During this operation, agents seized the suspect’s gadgets, which were subjected to forensic examination. This examination revealed that the individual was involved in love scam activities using various social media platforms.
After the arrest of the foreign national, the arrested Filipino subject revealed that the suppliers of the pre-registered SIM cards were already demanding payment from the Subject. Thus, another follow-up operation was conducted to apprehend the suppliers.
The agents of the NBI-CCD proceeded to Paranaque City to hand over the payment for the 300 SIM cards to one of the suppliers. Upon handing over the marked money, the agents immediately apprehended the supplier and recovered 550 pre-registered SIM cards. Subsequently, the agents proceeded to the City of Manila to hand over the payment for another set of 300 SIM cards, which resulted in the arrest of the other supplier and the seizure of 180 pre-registered SIM cards.
The three Filipino subjects were presented for inquest proceedings for violation of Section 7 of Republic Act No. 11934 (SIM Registration Act) in relation to Section 6 of R.A. No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). Meanwhile, the Nigerian national was also presented for inquest proceedings for Computer-Related Fraud under Section 49b)(2) and Computer-Related Identity Theft under Section 4(b)(3) of R.A. No. 10175.
NBI Director Matibag commended the agents of the NBI-CCD for their thorough and meticulous investigation efforts, which culminated in the successful dismantling of a highly sophisticated and well-organized scamming network responsible for a wide range of online fraudulent activities. Director Matibag emphasized the importance of this operation, which not only targeted the scammers but also focused on disrupting the entire supply chain involved in the scam ecosystem. This included apprehending the suppliers of pre-registered SIM cards, as well as the intermediaries tasked with distributing these SIM cards to various scam operators, thereby addressing multiple levels of the illegal operation.
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