Scams and fraud: Philippines.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · India.

Moraph for Good · Fluent

Scams and fraud: Philippines

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/scams-and-fraud

Every scam ends with a request to move money or share a code, and that is the moment to stop. This sheet has the warning signs, the first-hour steps, and where to report where you live.

The habit

Stop, hang up, and call back on a number you already have
Check new bank details by phone before you pay
Never read out a code you didn’t ask for

Warning signs

Contact out of the blue, with urgency or secrecy
A “safe account”, or new bank details
Guaranteed high returns, or fees to withdraw
Someone met online who needs money

The first hour

Stop paying, and call your bank on the number on your card
Change passwords you gave away, and keep the evidence
Report it to the police and the services below
Watch for recovery offers, and tell someone you trust

Signs of identity theft

Transactions or accounts you don’t recognize
Bills or debt letters for things you didn’t buy
Refused credit you would expect to get

In the Philippines

Tell your bank or e-wallet fast. Under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (Republic Act No. 12010), banks and other institutions can temporarily hold funds in a disputed transaction, for no more than 30 calendar days unless a court extends it, while they verify it with the other institutions involved. A complaint from the person affected is one of the things that starts this process.
Report the crime. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) encourages scam and fraud victims to report to law enforcement: the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, or the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), whose hotline is 1326.
Never lend your account. Under the same law, using, lending, selling or renting out a financial account to move money from crimes or scams is money muling, and is an offence; so is recruiting others to do it. Getting someone’s passwords or account details by pretending to act for an institution is a social engineering scheme, also an offence.
If your bank doesn’t help. Complain to the bank or e-wallet’s own complaints process first. If you aren’t satisfied, escalate to the BSP’s Consumer Assistance Mechanism through its chatbot, BSP Online Buddy (BOB), or by emailing consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph with proof you complained first. The BSP doesn’t need your PIN, password or card numbers to handle a complaint.

Official places to check:

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: www.bsp.gov.ph/Regulations/Banking%20Laws/AFASA-Booklet-with-IRRs.pdf
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: www.bsp.gov.ph/Inclusive%20Finance/How-to-file-a-complaint-with-BSP-CAM-Sep2025.pdf
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: www.bsp.gov.ph/Pages/InclusiveFinance/ConsumerAssistanceChannelsChatbot.aspx?ID=1870

More free official help in the Philippines: moraph.org/commons/help/financial-literacy/ph

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 20 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/scams-and-fraud