The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has once again warned against the increase in cases of online scams during this pandemic period where the online selling industry, online bank transactions, and the use of online government application for solicitation have grown.
NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor said scammers often use COVID-19-related items such as fake websites or links, online selling, pretending to be charitable or soliciting donations, investment scams, phishing or obtaining personal information and using mobile applications.
NBI Cybercrime Division head Victor Lorenzo, on the other hand, warns the public not to give their one-time PIN to anyone.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), which now uses the mobile money transfer application to provide the second tranche of the Special Amelioration Program (SAP) and even the banks, is not asking for an OTP.
“Ang key kasi dito is public awareness. Mag-ingat tayo sa online transactions natin. ‘Wag tayo masyadong ma-excite sa transactions. Pag-isipan, mag-pause at tingnan ang tell-tale signs at red flags sa transactions natin,” said Lorenzo.
(The key here is public awareness. Let’s be careful with our online transactions. Let us not be too excited about transactions. Think, pause, and look at the tell-tale signs and red flags in our transactions.)
Also read: DOJ alarmed over rising online child exploitation cases in PH
Online scam cases increase amid COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the mandatory use of public transportation and offices, the demand for face shield now is being used by scammers to deceive traders who want to sell it by offering a wholesale supply. However, the scammers do not show up when payment has already been made.
He said the public could report suspected online scams or if online scammers victimize them at their hotline at (o8) 523-8231.
The Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OCC) earlier reported phishing, online selling, and proliferation of information or fake news as the leading cybercrime during community quarantine in the country.
Online sexual exploitation of children or OSEC is no longer the number one cybercrime violation committed in the country amid pandemic, the DOJ-OCC said.
DOJ said that OCC observed a 264.63 percent increase or more than 202,605 reported incidents of OSEC from March 1 to May 24 compared to the figures in the same period last year.