By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a nationwide campaign against online scams, warning that 84 percent of Filipino adults encountered scam attempts in the past year, highlighting the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial fraud.
The figure was cited in the 2026 State of Scams in the Philippines report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), up from 77 percent in 2025. Of those surveyed, 15 percent reported financial losses, including incidents involving stolen personal data.
In response, the DOJ, through its Office of Cybercrime, introduced the “S.U.R.E. ka na ba?” campaign to strengthen public awareness and help Filipinos recognize, report and prevent online scams.
The initiative encourages the public to follow four key actions: Spot a scam, Understand how it works, Report suspicious incidents, and Empower others to protect themselves.
The Justice Department said its approach goes beyond investigating and prosecuting cybercriminals, emphasizing prevention through public education, early intervention and greater awareness of online threats.
The campaign also calls for stronger cooperation among government agencies and private companies, recognizing that online fraud can involve telecommunications networks, social media platforms, financial institutions and criminal groups operating across borders.
Among the government partners cited were the Department of Trade and Industry, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and National Telecommunications Commission.
Private sector partners include the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, DITO, Maya and BPI.
The DOJ said it would continue pursuing cybercriminals while strengthening efforts to prevent more Filipinos from becoming victims of online fraud.
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