On July 24, 2025, at about 5:00 PM in Caloocan City, operatives of the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team conducted an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man, alias “Rico,” for the illegal online sale of an electronic payment account through a registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

“Rico” is facing charges for violations of Section 5(d) of RA No. 12010 (Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act or AFASA of 2024) and Section 7 of RA No. 11934 (SIM Registration Act of 2022), both 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, “Financial accounts sold online are often exploited to carry out cyber fraud and scams. We remind the public that engaging in these illegal activities, whether by selling or using such accounts, carries legal consequences. Stay alert and report suspicious activities to help us maintain a safer online environment.”