Authorities in The Philippines on Friday arrested seven Nigerians over alleged online love scam.

According to reports from the country, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also shot down one Nigerian during a raid on their hideout in Imus, Cavite.

The suspects are identified as Kenneth Chuku, Ikenna Dickson Okalla, Chukwuma George Adible, Chiboy Stanley Agbasy, Dim Remedios, Abas Kashmir and Uba Living.

Reports further identified the deceased Nigerian as Orisakwe Ifeanyi Emmanuel.

The NBI anti-cybercrime agents, armed with a court search warrant, swooped on the suspects’ hideout following accusations that the syndicate had been involved in so-called “cat-fishing”.

The NBI’s report says that during the raid the now-dead suspect grabbed a pistol and attempted to shoot at officers. After being subdued, the official account says, he then tried to grab a hand grenade, prompting the agents to fire at him.

He was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

“That’s the love scam, they’re sweet to talk to you online until you get to meet up and that will be an opportunity for them to further lure you into making an investment,” NBI cybercrime division chief Victor Lorenzo said at a press conference today.

“We have received information that this group is actually engaged not only in credit card scamming but also involved in love scam, investment scam, and at the same time they are using the names of government agencies to lure individuals not only here in the Philippines but also in other countries.”

Items seized from the suspects included six laptops, 11 mobile phones, one skimming device, one hand grenade, one nine-millimetre pistol, eight bundles of fake dollars, various blank cards, security strips, sim cards and credit cards.

The Nigerian suspects are now facing charges under Republic Act 8484, or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by RA 9516 or the Law on Explosives, and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions.