MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Ilocos Regional Anti Cybercrime Unit (RACU-1) is discouraging patronage of preregistered sim cards with GCash accounts as it is unlawful and can be utilized in illegal activities.
In a phone interview on Friday, RACU-1 chief, Col. Domingo Soriano, said GCash account can be easily created by an individual and there is no need to buy a preregistered account.
He also warned the public not to give their account to anybody or allow somebody to use their identification in this account or any other types similar to GCash.
“Some accounts might be used in scams or illegal activities and the one who is registered, even if he or she is not using that account, will be held accountable,” he said.
Soriano made the warning following the arrest of two suspects for alleged violation of Republic Act 8484, or the or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.
He said cybercrime patrollers of RACU monitored the two suspects who were selling sim cards with verified GCash accounts.
An entrapment operation was held on Thursday that resulted in the arrest of Rodelyn Regelme, 31, and Frederick Liban, 39, both residents of this town.
The authorities confiscated from the suspects 22 GCash verified sim cards, seven sim card chips, and the boodle money used in the operation, among others.
“There have been reports in other areas outside the province that there are those who use the names of other people to register in GCash and pay them PHP500 while they sell the account at a higher cost,” Soriano said.
He said they will be verifying the names registered in the GCash accounts being sold by the suspect and checking if these are real persons who can also be held liable as accessories to the crime.
“Although, based on our past experiences, there are those who use fake identification cards to register to these types of online accounts,” he added.
Cases are being readied for filing against the arrested suspects. (PNA)
