DOJ indicts 4 over hacking of BDO accounts

The Department of Justice said state prosecutors indicted four individuals over the massive hacking of more than 700 BDO accounts in December 2021. 

In a statement, the DOJ said they will file charges for violations of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 and RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act against Jherom Anthony Taupa Ifensinachi Fountain Anaekwe, Ronelyn Panaligan, and Clay Revillosa. 

A similar complaint filed against Chukwuemeka Peter Nwadi will be subject to further investigation.

 The five were arrested in a series of operations by the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division on January 20 and 22. The group is behind the “Mark Nagoyo” scam that victimized more than 700,000 BDO account holders in December 2021.

 Based on the NBI CCD complaint, the DOJ said they all had “vital” participation in enacting the fraudulent transfer of money from the victims’ BDO accounts.

The department said the NBI likened the scheme to money laundering. “[A]fter hackers have illegally accessed the online banking account or banking system, they would transfer the money to a dummy bank account,” it said.

“Thereafter, another transfer would then be made either to another dummy bank account, Gcash or Paymaya account. Money mules are then engaged to personally withdraw or cash-out the stolen money, who would earn by getting commissions from the total amount of withdrawn money,” the DOJ said. 

After a series of transfers, the money obtained through the fraudulent scheme will be moved to the syndicate’s personal accounts, the DOJ added.