THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cyber Crime Division has arrested an individual for fraudulent use and illegal production of ATM and credit cards, and is now tracking others involved in the operation.
The suspect, identified as Gerard Joseph Liwag, was arrested on Oct. 9 at a condominium within the Bonifacio Global City. He is facing charges for violation of R.A. 8484 (Access Device Regulation Act of 1998) in relation to R.A. 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.
The NBI, in a statement released yesterday, said the case stemmed from a complaint from a “big commercial bank.”
It also received information that an organized syndicate, which targets malls and casinos in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, is behind the fraud.
The NBI further stated that the “modus operandi of the group is to secure information and credit card details through call centers and other business establishment skimmers.”
Ferdinand M. Lavin, Forensic Investigation Service deputy director, said that only the information are stolen and Mr. Liwag manufactures the cards.
“So these are not stolen cards. All the information are stolen from legit cards and transferred to blank cards and would make it appear as legit card,” he said.
Seized in the suspect’s condominium unit were HITI card printer, embossing machine, Fargo high definition printer, removable storage device, skimming device, laptops, point-of-sale card terminal, HUB (A4 Tech), Java blank cards, and eighty pieces of various cards. Also discovered were several identification cards, including passports.
Cyber Crime Division Chief Victor V. Lorenzo said Mr. Liwag has been operating for five years and it could be one of the biggest card fraud operations in the country.
Mr. Lavin noted that the suspect’s equipment are far more sophisticated compared with other busted fraud operations in the past.
Mr. Liwag was presented to the Department of Justice on Oct. 10 for inquest proceedings.
The following day, seven commercial banks issued certificates that he is not authorized to produce debit, credit, and other cards. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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