MANILA -- The Cybercrime Investigation Coordinating Center (CICC) says the agency is working to educate Filipinos in rural communities to avoid being victimized by cybercrime through the Project ACUITY (Anti-Cybercrime Upskilling Initiative for Community).

CICC Executive Director Usec Alexander Ramos said based on data, many cybercrime victims who come from the rural communities may be unaware of many warning signs that they are dealing with cybercriminals.

“Ang aming ahensya ay nag-reach out sila para ma-reduce natin ang victims coming from rural centers before they get into urban centers. Tinuturuan namin ng paggamit ng cellphone, yung mga warning signs natin, paano kung ginu-groom ka na para maging victim ng human trafficking?" he said.

(Our agency is reaching out to reduce the number of victims from rural areas before they come to urban centers. We teach them how to use the cellphone, warning signs, or how you can tell if you're being groomed for human trafficking.)

"Sa kabataan kasi kasama natin is to teach out children, paano mo malalaman kung ikaw ay tinatarget na? Yon ay binabahagi natin to the communities para hindi sila mangmang sa ganito,” Ramos explained.

(For the youth, we teach them to know if they are being targeted. We share that knowledge to the communities so they are aware of this.)

During these sessions the CICC also teaches residents how to identify different scam techniques, and safeguard personal data, among others.

Cybercrime cases were among the highest reported crimes in the Philippines in 2023.

Cybercrime cases nangunguna sa listahan ngayong 2023

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