YouTuber Exposes Scam Call Center in Cebu, Philippines

A YouTuber known as mrwn, who has made a name for himself by investigating online scams, recently brought a scam to light. This time, the scam is not from India or Pakistan but Cebu City, Philippines. What makes this exposé even more alarming is the scale, structure, and sheer boldness of this scam operation.

A Scam Call Center in Cebu IT Park

mrwn managed to infiltrate and expose a scam call center operating from the second floor of the Skyrise building in Cebu IT Park. This group pretended to be from legitimate financial companies, targeting unsuspecting individuals with phony investment offers using fake platforms like Quantum AI, Bitcoin Code, and others.

Their tactic was simple: lure victims with promises of high returns from cryptocurrency investments, pressure them to deposit money, and then block or ghost them when they try to withdraw. They follow a 14-page script designed to manipulate, guilt-trip, and confuse the victims into compliance.

One call revealed an agent claiming she was too busy to continue entertaining the potential victim, then pushed hard by saying her other clients were earning weekly profits of 30% to 40%. The script also included emotional manipulation, such as reminding victims of their financial struggles and pushing them with guilt-inducing lines like, “Do you want to be like that forever?”

Behind the Scenes: Scripts, Calls, and Psychological Pressure

Mrwn uncovered the scam scripts, summarized with ChatGPT's help: they start with friendly greetings, followed by detailed pitches about fake software, and end with an aggressive push to make the first deposit, often the start of a deeper financial trap.

In one recorded call, a South African man hesitated over the high cost. The agent instead pressured him using emotional appeals and convincing him not to “give up on his family’s future.” This is quite common in high-pressure sales scams. 

What’s worse, the call center stored victims' card details in plain text, a huge security risk. This kind of data can be sold to other cybercriminals or used for identity theft.

A Deep Dive Into the Operation

According to mrwn, this group has been active for over a year, constantly relocating to avoid detection. His access to their internal systems gave him a front-row seat into their shady operations. He even gained control of their CCTV cameras, allowing him to watch the scammers in action.

He uncovered old campaigns under names like “Virtual Wealth Exchange,” which targeted countries like Canada and the UK. Victims were instructed to use Bitcoin ATMs, and their online “profits” were manipulated in real-time to make the platform seem legit.

After facing exposure, the group rebranded as “BTC Boutique,” and later “Solless Markets,” shifting focus to less-regulated markets like South Africa, Nigeria, and parts of the Gulf region. Their main selling point remained the same: fake investments with promises of life-changing returns.

Who’s Running the Show?

At the center of this operation is a man who goes by the alias "Marcus." However, his real name is Antonio, and records link him to a company registered as BMJ Data Processing Services. While he acts as the floor manager, the real boss, known only as “Adam”, holds an Israeli phone number and appears to be funding the entire scam.

Financial records revealed that in just one month, the team scammed over $68,000. Their yearly earnings were estimated at over $821,000, with a net profit of more than $365,000 after expenses. It’s a highly organized and lucrative criminal enterprise hiding behind office desks and headsets.

Government Inaction and the Need for Vigilance

Despite all the evidence, mrwn’s attempts to report the group to authorities in the Philippines were met with little action. He received only one reply from the Department of Justice - Office of Cybercrime advising him to file a police report in person, something he couldn’t do since he’s not based in the country.

We hereby acknowledge receipt of your email. After reviewing its contents, we believe it would be most appropriate for you to file a formal complaint with our law enforcement agencies. In order to initiate an investigation, a formal complaint is required. Please note that under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, our office, the DOJ - Office of Cybercrime (D0J-O0C), is not a law enforcement agency.

For the best course of action, we recommend that you directly file your complaint with either the NBI Cybercrime Division, located at Filinvest Cyberzone Bay, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City, or the PNP Ant-Cybercrime Group at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

We kindly suggest referring to the following links for their respective contact details:

NBI - http://nbi.gov.ph/transparency-seal/nbi-divisions

PNP-ACG - https://acg.pnp.gov.ph/contact-us/

When filing your complaint, please make sure to comply with the following requirements:

1) A notarized complaint affidavit providing a written account of the incident.

2) Relevant attachments that will serve as evidence to support your complaint.

Additionally, if it is more convenient for you, you may also consider filing a complaint at the nearest Regional Ant-Cybercrime Unit of the PNP-ACG.

Should you have any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you and best regards,

Department of Justice - Office of Cybercrime

Padre Faura St, Ermita, Manila, 1000

So he took matters into his own hands.

Armed with access to their CCTV system, he staged a live confrontation. He posed as “Adam,” called the agents directly, and even sent screenshots from their own security cameras to spook them. Chaos erupted in the office. Agents panicked, covered their faces, and fled the premises. The floor manager tried to keep things calm, but it was clear, they were exposed.

A Glimpse Into a Bigger Problem

This incident isn’t isolated. The Philippines, a global hub for legitimate business process outsourcing (BPO), also unintentionally provides cover for illegal operations like scam call centers. With a strong English-speaking workforce, affordable labor, and solid tech infrastructure, it becomes easier for bad actors to blend in with legitimate businesses.

Unfortunately, while scams are getting more complex and aggressive, government action often lags behind. Many online scams reported by victims can only be formally filed in person at local agencies, a process that’s frustrating, especially for those living overseas. This defeats the purpose of online reporting and discourages people from taking action.

To truly address this issue, Philippine government agencies need to step up, streamlining the reporting process, cracking down on suspicious operations, and making it easier for victims to seek help, no matter where they are.

Still, the best defense remains awareness. If something sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

You can watch mrwn’s full video below to see how he exposed this call center in real time and catch the scammers reacting live on camera.

UPDATE (MAY 19, 2025 - 22:00): In response to a viral expose posted on May 18, 2025, Skyrise, through its legal counsel MN Law, has issued a statement denying any link to the scam operations highlighted in the video.

Skyrise has taken note of a YouTube video posted on May 18, 2025, which alleges the presence of individuals engaged in fraudulent activities purportedly operating from the 2nd floor of Skyrise 1, located in Cebu IT Park.

Upon conducting a thorough internal investigation and verifying relevant records, Skyrise categorically confirms that the individuals featured in the aforementioned video are not, and have never been, tenants of Skyrise 1 or any other Skyrise-managed property.

Skyrise upholds the highest standards of integrity and is firmly committed to full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and building management protocols. As part of this commitment, 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.

Skyrise likewise remains fully cooperative with relevant authorities in addressing any incidents that may affect the safety, security, or reputation of its properties and stakeholders.

For further inquiries or to report any concerns, please contact MN Law at (0917) 126 3887.

(via mrwn)