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

THUMBNAIL-CYBER

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- 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.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.According to app developer, Gogolook, the most common types of scams are as follows:<ul><li>&bull; 25% lured people into registering on phishing sites</li><li>&bull; 18% offered fake gift cards or promotions</li><li>&bull; 17% promoted downloading apps from unauthorized sources</li><li>&bull; 15% combination of job, loan, and investment scams</li><li>&bull; 14% targeted the purchase of tech gadgets</li></ul>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; said Gogolook Country Representative for the Philippines Mel Migrino during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oh3ieeY7Itg?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> 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.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.&ldquo;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,&rdquo; said CICC Executive Director, Undersecretary Alexander Ramos.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.&ldquo;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&hellip; They have to serve a sentence here but a shorter term then they will be deported,&rdquo; he added.But even Ramos admits that the Sim Card Registration Law needs to be updated to better address ever-evolving scam techniques.&ldquo;May nagre-register, isandaang sim card sa isang name, prepaid. Wala kasing limit ang pagrerehistro. Ito ay mga amendments na sina-suggest natin,&rdquo; he said.Ramos said a law regulating the use of artificial intelligence is also key since many scams are already utilizing the technology.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wbo0n2W4b4?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> SCAM PREVENTIONFor its part, Whoscall is promoting public awareness against scams through its app which distinguishes between scam numbers and legitimate contacts.It can also detect malicious links embedded within texts, and helps determine whether a user has been involved in a data leak.&ldquo;Habang nagri-ring ang phone mo, sasabihin niya sa&rsquo;yo, ah, ito bank ito. Ito outright sinabi niya sayo, scammer yan&hellip; Kung laging tumatawag sainyo, you can report it here para ma-investigate,&rdquo; explained Migrino.&ldquo;Kahit mahina ang internet mo o wala kang internet, pero pwede kang tawagan, gagana siya,&rdquo; she also noted.Meanwhile, the CICC believes the newly enacted Anti-Financial Account Scamming Law will further strengthen its cause.The Philippine Central Bank is still currently drafting the implementing rules and regulations of the measure.

&ldquo;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,&rdquo; said Gogolook Country Representative for the Philippines Mel Migrino during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oh3ieeY7Itg?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> 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.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.&ldquo;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,&rdquo; said CICC Executive Director, Undersecretary Alexander Ramos.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.&ldquo;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&hellip; They have to serve a sentence here but a shorter term then they will be deported,&rdquo; he added.But even Ramos admits that the Sim Card Registration Law needs to be updated to better address ever-evolving scam techniques.&ldquo;May nagre-register, isandaang sim card sa isang name, prepaid. Wala kasing limit ang pagrerehistro. Ito ay mga amendments na sina-suggest natin,&rdquo; he said.Ramos said a law regulating the use of artificial intelligence is also key since many scams are already utilizing the technology.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wbo0n2W4b4?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> SCAM PREVENTIONFor its part, Whoscall is promoting public awareness against scams through its app which distinguishes between scam numbers and legitimate contacts.It can also detect malicious links embedded within texts, and helps determine whether a user has been involved in a data leak.&ldquo;Habang nagri-ring ang phone mo, sasabihin niya sa&rsquo;yo, ah, ito bank ito. Ito outright sinabi niya sayo, scammer yan&hellip; Kung laging tumatawag sainyo, you can report it here para ma-investigate,&rdquo; explained Migrino.&ldquo;Kahit mahina ang internet mo o wala kang internet, pero pwede kang tawagan, gagana siya,&rdquo; she also noted.Meanwhile, the CICC believes the newly enacted Anti-Financial Account Scamming Law will further strengthen its cause.The Philippine Central Bank is still currently drafting the implementing rules and regulations of the measure.

According to app developer, Gogolook, the most common types of scams are as follows:<ul><li>&bull; 25% lured people into registering on phishing sites</li><li>&bull; 18% offered fake gift cards or promotions</li><li>&bull; 17% promoted downloading apps from unauthorized sources</li><li>&bull; 15% combination of job, loan, and investment scams</li><li>&bull; 14% targeted the purchase of tech gadgets</li></ul>

MANILA (UPDATED) -- 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.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.

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.

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 News

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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