‘Scam hub’ shut down after hacker’s exposure

A FIRM located in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City has been temporarily shut down for allegedly operating as a “scam hub.”

The authorities, led by the Business Permit  and Licensing Office (BPLO), temporarily closed BMJ Data Processing Services on Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2025.

A foreign hacker exposed BMJ Data Processing Services’ purported illegal activities through his YouTube channel after infiltrating their system. 

The company allegedly targeted victims outside the Philippines, luring them into investments with promises of high returns.

According to the hacker, BMJ Data Processing Services initially operated from Skyrise 1 in IT Park in Barangay Apas and later moved to its current location in Barangay Kasambagan.

The BPLO issued a show cause order against the firm, citing three violations: operating without an approved Mayor’s Business Permit, failing to renew their Mayor’s Business Permit, and not displaying their Mayor’s Business Permit.

The operation was conducted by the BPLO, Police Regional Office 7, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Cebu City Field Unit, and Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit (Racu) 7. 

CCPO Director Col. Enrico Figueroa said there were no employees present when they arrived and only the computer sets and other equipment remained.

Figueroa contacted a woman claiming to be a supervisor for the sub-lease of BMJ Data Processing Services, inviting her for an investigation to clarify the allegations. 

She promised to cooperate through her lawyers. 

She also claimed they only rented the building and owned the computer sets, and different individuals are now operating the firm. She also said they were unaware of the alleged illegal activities.

However, Figueroa said authorities will conduct a deeper investigation, considering the initial  statement provided by another tenant who expressed suspicion about the workers’ behavior. 

“Ito daw ay nagduda sila sa umpisa palang dahil hindi daw siya normal dahil maingay daw dito sa loob, maraming nag hihiyawan maraming tugtogan so parang hindi siya legit na office,” said Figueroa.
(They suspected something was wrong from the very start. They said it wasn’t normal because it was noisy inside, with a lot of shouting and loud music, so it didn’t seem like a legitimate office.)

Figueroa said initial information suggests the company stopped their  operations on Monday, May 19, after going viral on Facebook. 

Racu 7 chief of operations Capt. Gaudioso Morte said it will apply for a search warrant so they can conduct an electronic examination of the computers to determine the exact nature of the illegal activities.

Morte said examining the computers will help them determine the type of crime committed, which will be the basis for the filing of charges.

PRO 7 Director  Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said they have a list of all employees and will locate them. 

“So we will look for all the employees who were here… that’s why we are giving them a chance to clear their names. If they had no involvement, they should go to the Cebu City Police Office and explain their side there,” Maranan said.

Maranan warned the employees to cooperate with the investigation, otherwise they will face criminal charges with a penalty of up to 12 years of imprisonment.

Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, in a Facebook post, said he has directed the BPLO to inspect the site following concerns that may have international implications.

Garcia said that the evaluation uncovered grounds for issuing a show cause order.

“In the meantime, this alleged syndicate won’t be able to operate…I hope this is enough time for the police to gather evidence and crack the case,” Garcia said.

Meanwhile, two establishments in Cebu City have publicly denied any involvement in the alleged scam operation exposed in the viral YouTube video. 

Skyrise 1, the owner of the building where the alleged scam hub was initially located, denied any ties with BMJ Data Processing Services.

Through its legal counsel MN Law, Skyrise 1 said an internal probe confirmed the individuals in question were never tenants of any Skyrise property.

“Skyrise implements stringent due diligence procedures in the vetting, approval, and monitoring of all its tenants to ensure a safe, lawful, and reputable business environment within its premises,” reads a portion of the official statement. 

Garden of Envy, a restobar located at the same mixed-use building where the alleged scam hub was operating, refuted any ties to the operations, saying their establishment was “unfairly” dragged to the controversy. / AYB, DPC