MANILA — Police seized an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher from a former security guard of an offshore gaming operator in Pasay City, an official said on Friday.

Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) chief BGen. Bernard Yang said the suspect initially advertised the sale of the device on social media for P600,000, prompting operatives to carry out an entrapment operation along Roxas Boulevard on Thursday.

The device, commonly known as a “stingray,” rogue cell tower, fake cell tower, cell site simulator, or drop box, works by imitating a legitimate cell tower and tricking nearby phones into connecting to it.

Once connected, the IMSI catcher can collect the IMSI numbers of devices, enabling it to track their location and activity, as well as intercept text messages, calls, and data traffic.

This device, which can be used for mass SMS broadcasting without the need for a database, SIM card, or WiFi, is often exploited in text scams.

“Ito ay kapag nagamit ng mga cyber criminals ay napaka-delikado sa ating mga kababayan,” Yang said, adding that the device could be used for scamming, election campaigning, or spreading disinformation.

(If used by cybercriminals, it is extremely dangerous to our citizens.)

The suspect will face charges related to violations of the National Telecommunications Commission Law and the Data Privacy Act, according to Yang.

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Yang said the suspect purchased the IMSI catcher from his former employer after the company shut down following the government's ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

He surmised that the company might have used the device for illicit activities.

“Ang pinaka-objective naman nito ay mass sending ng messages. So, ano ba ‘yong mga nare-receive natin na messages? Marami po ‘yong mga pinakapaglagay tayo ng different information doon sa link na pinapadala,” said Yang. 

(The main objective of this device is mass messaging. So, what kind of messages do we receive? Many of them contain links with misleading information.)

The suspect declined to answer media questions and said he would respond through his lawyer. He did not disclose the name of the company where he acquired the device.

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