CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has announced that he will form a task force to combat fraudulent activities disguised as legitimate business process outsourcing (BPO) operations in Cebu City.
The initiative follows the recent shutdown of a “scam hub” in Barangay Kasambagan that gained widespread attention for defrauding foreign clients.
The task force will include representatives from the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) of the City Government, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), and the City Administrator’s office. Their tasks will involve monitoring, surveillance and inspection of BPO companies, particularly in areas like Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park.
Garcia told reporters on Thursday, May 22, 2025, that he was surprised at the emergence of such schemes and acknowledged the difficulty in identifying fraudulent BPOs.
“I will create a task force just to look into these operations... to do monitoring, surveillance, and to check one by one if their operations are not fraudulent,” Garcia said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Last Tuesday afternoon, May 20, authorities raided and temporarily shut down BMJ Data Processing Services.
The closure followed a viral social media exposé by foreign hacker “mrwn” and a subsequent inspection by a joint task force.
Authorities found the office, located on the second floor of a building in Kasambagan, abandoned. Only computer sets, other equipment, and personal belongings were left behind on desks, suggesting a hasty exit.
The BPLO revealed that BMJ Data committed several violations, including operating without a mayor’s business permit. It ordered the company’s management to explain these violations or face further sanctions, which may include permanent closure.
The mayor also urged employees of the BPO company to cooperate with authorities.
He assured them of protection from charges if they come forward and clarify the incident.
Cooperation is crucial, Garcia explained, to identify other companies posing as legitimate BPOs while engaging in fraudulent activities like love scams.
“I’m really urging them to come out, to tell their story so that... these kinds of illegal activities are what harm the legitimate call centers; these are what harm our city of Cebu as a center,” Garcia said.
Transparency from employees, he said, can help restore the reputation of Cebu City’s BPO industry.
Earlier, Police Regional Office 7 Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan called for employees to surrender to the Cebu City Police Office and assist in the investigation. Police currently possess names of call center agents who are undergoing background checks. / AYB