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The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-CIDG) has arrested, in a follow-up operation in Pasay Cit,y the founder of Ploutos Coin by virtue of 22 warrants related to the entity’s investment schemes.
The suspect has been one of the National Level Most Wanted Persons since October 2024, with a ₱400,000 reward for his arrest.
Ploutos Coin Founder Arrested
According to the PNP-CIDG, the suspect is facing 12 counts of syndicated estafa, two counts of large-scale swindling, two counts of estafa in relation to Presidential Decree No. 1689, and eight counts of alleged violation of the Securities Regulation Code (RA 8799).
The arrest warrants are issued by Regional Trial Court Branches 20, 39, 18, and 21 in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, and Branch 33 in Zamboanga City in 2019, 2020, and 2025.
Furthermore, out of the 22 arrest warrants, 10 are non-bailable.
“This operation reflects the continuous improvement of our investigative and operational capabilities, which translates to effective and efficient law enforcement.
[Ploutos Coin] does not hold the license to solicit investments from the public. Investors included a wide range of individuals, notably retired and active police officers who poured their savings into the scheme.”
Maj. Gen. Robert Morico, Director, PNP, CIDG
The Ploutos Coin Scam
The suspect launched a trading club in Cagayan de Oro in 2018, as per the police, which entices investors to invest in Ploutos Coin, which is an investment instrument disguised as a cryptocurrency.
In February 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a public advisory about Ploutos and individuals associated with Reveal Marketing, which introduces the club on social media as a “shareholder’s program” reminiscent of Reveal’s setup.
After its investigation, the SEC found that Ploutos offers two share options: the Starter Plan, promising a 40% return in 10 days with a minimum investment of ₱1,000, and the Advanced Plan, ensuring a 100% return in 20 days with the same minimum investment.
Worth Reading: SEC Issues Advisories vs Unlicensed Investment Schemes
The PNP-CIDG said that the SEC advisory was published just days after the trading club opened at a mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
“The scale of the scam was very significant—involving millions of pesos from thousands of victims and members across the Visayas and Mindanao, most dominantly in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.”
Maj. Gen. Robert Morico, Director, PNP, CIDG
SEC Investment Alert
For 2026, BitPinas has curated the list of entities and individuals that have been named in separate public advisories and cease-and-desist orders from the SEC for illegal operations and fraudulent schemes.
The list also provides a step-by-step guide on how to report suspicious investment schemes.
Read it here: Philippine SEC Investment Scam Watchlist: Public Advisories, Cease-and-Desist Orders, and Community Reports
This article is published on BitPinas: Ploutos Coin Founder Arrested Over Cagayan de Oro Crypto Investment Scam
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