THE International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued a red notice against Maria Francesca “Mica” Tan, the MFT Group of Companies Inc. CEO who has been accused by Philippine regulators of orchestrating a large-scale investment scam.
The red notice, published on May 25, requests law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest Tan pending extradition or similar legal proceedings, based on an arrest warrant issued by Philippine courts.
Tan is facing multiple warrants of arrest in connection with alleged violations of the Securities Regulation Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, as well as separate charges of syndicated estafa.
The Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 70 issued a warrant against Tan for alleged unauthorized sale of securities and fraudulent investment activities tied to MFT Group and its related entities.
A separate Lipa City court in Batangas earlier issued another arrest warrant for syndicated estafa, with no bail recommended.
The case originated from a 2024 complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission before the Department of Justice, which led to the indictment of Tan and other company officers in 2025.
Authorities allege that MFT Group solicited investments from the public by promising fixed returns ranging from 12 percent to 18 percent, with funds purportedly tied to business operations and purchase orders of affiliated firms.
Investigators said the structure of the scheme bore the hallmarks of a Ponzi-type operation, where returns to earlier investors were allegedly paid using funds from new entrants rather than actual business profits.
Under the Securities Regulation Code, the SEC prohibits the sale of securities without proper registration and penalizes fraudulent investment practices and unlicensed trading activity.
