Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported 73 Chinese nationals on Monday night who were staying in the Philippines as aliens, and are wanted in China for economic crimes.

Their passports were canceled by the Chinese government, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

The BI Board of Commissioners issued a summary deportation order for the Chinese nationals after they were arrested on January 13 for operating a telecom fraud business.

BI legal division chief Arvin Cesar Santos said the Chinese police monitored around 100 internet protocol (IP) addresses in China coming from the Philippines.

"The telecom fraudsters allegedly pretended to be police officers, prosecutors, and judges when calling their victims in China, many of whom are rich businessmen," the BI said in a press release.

Authorities from the BI and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, who conducted the raids in Ilocos Sur and Las Pinas City, seized improvised soundproof telephone cubicles, laptops, cell phones, internet routers, and a list of their victims, the BI added.

"The victims were told that they had cases involving their phone numbers or bank accounts that needed to be investigated after which they would demand payment by asking that the money be transferred to the syndicate's account," Santos said.

BI Investigators said the foreigners entered the Philippines using a tourist visa and did not apply for work permits.

Morente said the deportees boarded a chartered flight of the China Eastern Airlines from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Tianjin, China.