by Manila Bulletin
The digital age has touched almost all aspects of our lives, more so during the pandemic when even ordering food is done online through apps and using an e-payment system. It is now impossible to do the majority of transactions, whether it is with banks, schools, the government, or even merchants, without the use of any digital device or having an online account.
With people doing more transactions online, it is inevitable for fraudsters and scammers to also do their “hunting” online—finding their next prey among the millions of citizens who use the internet for various purposes on a daily basis.
Looking into the history of online scams, a study has shown that it started in the early ’90s during the rise of e-commerce in the world. Soon, these online scams reached a wider scope and became more sophisticated, targeting the most vulnerable such as kids, the elderly, the illiterate, or those who are not tech-savvy.
Internet scams cover a lot of activities done by cybercriminals. Their faces may be hidden in the shadows but their fraudulent ways have been uncovered via phishing emails, fake tech support calls or emails asking for your passwords or credit card numbers, fake SMS on phone declaring you a winner of a raffle or lottery, or social media links that illegally capture your online credentials once you click it. Each day, multiple versions of these scams appear on emails, social media, or SMS endlessly, hoping to bait a few of the most vulnerable.
In the country, Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, is the law protecting us from cybercrimes, which include cybersquatting, cybersex, child pornography, identity theft, illegal access to data, among others. Though the law has a noble purpose, is fully implemented, and has already penalized those who have done illegal acts online, there is still a need to look into this once again as in the duration of 10 years, so many advancements in technology and e-commerce have emerged. What was done online in 2012 is so much different compared to 2022. There is also a rise in the number of internet users, as in 2012, data revealed only 36 million users. Today, it is estimated at 76 million Filipinos.
More online frauds will happen. Online scams couldn’t be totally eradicated as catching one cyber criminal only emboldens the others to find different ways to scheme. What the government can do are three things: First, update the law on Cyber crime Prevention; second, improve the skills and learning of our law enforcement (they have to be 10 steps ahead of a cyber criminal); and third, educate and raise the awareness of Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable, about these kinds of crimes.
News from Congress revealed that there are lawmakers who intend to update the law to make it more attuned to the times. Technology advances by the hour and we can’t have a law that is updated only after a decade. This, however, has to wait when Congress sits down to work after the entry of a new administration. We hope that the next president would have this as part of his or her legislative agenda.
On the side of awareness, information is sadly still lacking. Each day, thousands of Filipinos are victims of cyber criminals who steal their identity or hard-earned money. The vulnerable members of our society, such as the elderly continue to be targeted as they share online information to supposedly members of “tech support.” The least we could do is to not only inform our parents or grandparents but also to give time when they ask about the internet, e-payments, or credit card transactions. We owe it to them to be patient and understanding as technology evolves at an unprecedented pace.
Our country can’t have a strong “e-conomy” as long as these issues are not addressed properly. And as long as online fraud is rampant, there can be no progress, no innovations, and no peace of mind for all internet users.
