Police see fewer online scams as 2025 ends

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center staff responsible for receiving reports, grievances, queries from the public on matters related to cyber crime, SIM card registration, etc. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) on Friday said it recorded fewer online scams in 2025, but maintained it was monitoring scam activity ahead of the holiday season.

PNP ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said only 3,941 cases have been reported as 2025 is about to end, in contrast to 7,081 cases of online scams in the entire year of 2024.

In an interview with dzMM, Arancillo attributed the decrease in the number of reported scams to an increased awareness among Filipinos of “what should and should not be done in [terms of] social media interactions and online transactions.”

She warned that through “these ‘ber’ months, we will see that there are more online scams being attempted by cyber criminals … We should watch out for these.”

Among the more frequent scams that the PNP has so far recorded this year were online selling (1,630 cases); investment or task scams (589 cases); vishing (431 cases); hijacked profile or identification scams (326 cases); and loan or lending scams (251 cases).