On July 23, 2025, in Lucena City, Quezon Province, operatives of the Quezon Provincial Cyber Response Team conducted two separate entrapment operations that led to the arrest of two male suspects, identified by their aliases “Nato,” 26, and “Estong,” 29, for the illegal online sale of electronic payment accounts through registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

Both suspects are facing charges for violation of Section 5(d) of RA No. 12010 (Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act or AFASA of 2024) in relation to Section 6 of RA No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Brigadier General Bernard R. Yang, Acting Director of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, commended the operatives for the successful operation. He also stated, “The sale of financial accounts online is a serious offense that enables a wide range of cybercrimes. Through the enforcement of AFASA, the PNP ACG is working to cut off the tools used by scammers and fraudsters. We call on the public to help us by reporting these illegal activities.”