Scam calls, messages in PH up 200 pct from  Jan to August

THUMBNAIL-CYBER

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- The number of scam calls and messages in the Philippines grew by 200 percent during the first eight months of 2024 compared to last year, according to anti-scam app Whoscall on Wednesday.</p><p>From January 1 to August 15, 2024, Whoscall logged more than 3,032,626 text scams and 320,978 scam calls through its community reporting program. Millions more in spam messages and spam calls were also reported.</p><p>According to app developer, Gogolook, the most common types of scams are as follows:</p><ul><li>• 25% lured people into registering on phishing sites</li><li>• 18% offered fake gift cards or promotions</li><li>• 17% promoted downloading apps from unauthorized sources</li><li>• 15% combination of job, loan, and investment scams</li><li>• 14% targeted the purchase of tech gadgets</li></ul><p>“Ang mga scammers, nagpo-profile sila e. Meron na silang idea, like, you are a probable target for an investment scam, you are a probable target for a loan scam,” said Gogolook Country Representative for the Philippines Mel Migrino during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oh3ieeY7Itg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The problem persists even though the SIM Card Registration Law, which was touted as the solution to scams, has been in effect for nearly two years now.</p><p>But the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) insisted that the measure has been the shot in the arm the government needed to crack down on scam syndicates.</p><p>“Bakit kami nag-ooperate ngayon? Bakit ang PAOCC at ang NBI, ang PNP, practically everybody, is running after people? Kasi meron tayong pwedeng habulin. Peke man yan o hindi, at least yung data na yun, will lead us to its origin. The record shows ang dami na nating nahuli,” said CICC Executive Director, Undersecretary Alexander Ramos.</p><p>Ramos also expects a win for the government soon with the looming conviction of 17 Chinese nationals arrested in Iloilo in November last year after they confessed to cybercrimes.</p><p>“Yung lawyer nila ay nag-plea bargain na. Inaantay na lang natin ang desisyon ng korte kung anong ipapataw sa kanila. And this would be the first conviction, if ever… They have to serve a sentence here but a shorter term then they will be deported,” he added.</p><p>But even Ramos admits that the Sim Card Registration Law needs to be updated to better address ever-evolving scam techniques.</p><p>“May nagre-register, isandaang sim card sa isang name, prepaid. Wala kasing limit ang pagrerehistro. Ito ay mga amendments na sina-suggest natin,” he said.</p><p>Ramos said a law regulating the use of artificial intelligence is also key since many scams are already utilizing the technology.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wbo0n2W4b4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>SCAM PREVENTION</strong></div><p>For its part, Whoscall is promoting public awareness against scams through its app which distinguishes between scam numbers and legitimate contacts.</p><p>It can also detect malicious links embedded within texts, and helps determine whether a user has been involved in a data leak.</p><p>“Habang nagri-ring ang phone mo, sasabihin niya sa’yo, ah, ito bank ito. Ito outright sinabi niya sayo, scammer yan… Kung laging tumatawag sainyo, you can report it here para ma-investigate,” explained Migrino.</p><p>“Kahit mahina ang internet mo o wala kang internet, pero pwede kang tawagan, gagana siya,” she also noted.</p><p>Meanwhile, the CICC believes the newly enacted Anti-Financial Account Scamming Law will further strengthen its cause.</p><p>The Philippine Central Bank is still currently drafting the implementing rules and regulations of the measure.</p>

<p>The number of scam calls and messages being reported in the Philippines grew by 200 percent over the last eight months of 2024, according to anti-scam app Whoscall on Wednesday.</p>

The number of scam calls and messages being reported in the Philippines grew by 200 percent over the last eight months of 2024, according to anti-scam app Whoscall on Wednesday.

Scam calls, messages in PH up by 200 pct in 2024 | ABS-CBN

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Scam calls, messages in PH up by 200 pct in 2024

Scam calls, messages in PH up by 200 pct in 2024

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 11, 2024 08:13 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 11, 2024 11:34 PM PHT

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