168 arrested in Easy Peso app lending hub raid for borrower harassment

Authorities raided the Pasig City operating hub of Creditable Lending Corporation, the company behind the Easy Peso lending app, arresting 168 employees for alleged borrower harassment.

The operation was conducted under a court-issued Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data, with confiscated items including hundreds of computers, mobile phones, pre-registered SIM cards, text blasters, and harassment scripts.

The raid followed months of surveillance and an investigation bolstered by the testimony of a former employee who exposed the company's deceptive and harassing practices.

Victims were allegedly directed to make payments to personal GCash or bank accounts, yet collectors continued to contact them even after payments were made.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director mentioned that their online site received 15,000 complaints, in addition to those received by the NBI and PNP, leading to the creation of a one-stop shop to address these issues.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago stated that victims who borrowed money due to dire needs were subjected to excessively high interest rates and threatened by collectors, and that a foreigner appears to be leading the operation.