MANILA -- The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) warned on Sunday against online lending apps that may be too good to be true.

A PAOCC official said the public should be wary of lending applications that give out a lot of "red flags," one of which would be the fast approval of a loan.

"Masyadong mabilis na pag-approve ng loan. Unang-una sa red flag po 'yan kasi sa loan talaga kailangan ng mga requirements like ID. May mga hinihingi pa na guarantees 'yan na pangalan ng magiging guarantor mo," PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Story Outlook.

"Halimbawa ang hinihingi lang sayo mga social media account mo tapos iche-check lang nila 'yan kung matagal na 'yan, tapos 'yang mga pictures mo [nakita] nila na legit naman na andyan pamilya mo... nakikita nila yan at napo-profile ka nila," he continued.

This was after the National Bureau of Investigation raided last January 31, 2025 an online lending firm in Makati City that allegedly harassed those with debts from them by humiliating them in their places of work, or by also sending them wreaths or coffins.

Online lending firm sa Makati sinalakay dahil sa umano'y abusadong pamamaraan ng paniningil ng utang

Cruz also said that one of the favorite targets of the online lending apps would be teachers or government employees.

"'Yan 'yung mga paborito nilang pautangin e kasi ayaw [nilang] mapahiya [sila] sa mga kasamahan [nila] sa trabaho, he said.

Another red flag to watch out for would be the "too good to true" interest rates.

"'Yung sinasabing mababa 'yung interes, tapos mas mababa pa 'yung interes kaysa sa bangko? Medyo magduda sila doon kasi 'di naman totoo na mas bababa pa sila sa interes na binibigay ng bangko," he said.

Cruz also reminded the public to research on the lending application itself to see if they have a good track record with their customers.

"'Pag chineck din nila 'yung background nung nagpapaloan na 'yun at nakita nila na walang ka-record record kung isesearch nila, magduda na rin sila."