THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has warned the public against possible online financial scams being perpetrated with the use of the so-called International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher device.
In an ambush interview, NBI Director Melvin Matibag described IMSI catcher as a device similar to a cell tower which is being used by criminals to mimic or copy signals from mobile phones in order to obtain information, such as credit card data and personal details.
Matibag issued the warning following the recent arrest of a Chinese national who was found in possession of the said device inside his vehicle.
The foreigner, according to the NBI chief, was arrested by members of the NBI-Special Action Force after tailing him from Pasay City to General Trias, Cavite.
‘We were able to track the individual and eventually caught him while in possession of the device which he was using for phishing or other online scams,’ Matibag said.
Matibag said the person will be charged with unauthorized possession of telecommunications equipment, cybercrime offenses provisions and financial fraud.
‘We are reporting this because we want to warn the public not to immediately rely on suspicious text messages, especially when the sender’s number is unknown,’ the NBI director said.
Matibag said the NBI is conducting further investigation to determine if there are other individuals working with the suspect.