Protect the vulnerable online from scammers and fraudsters

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.

Scammers now target intelligent users

 

by Art Samaniego, Manila Bulletin

The number of social media users recently scammed, hacked, and even harassed online is alarming. While cyber crime victims before were the clueless titos and titas, now, journalists, doctors, teachers, and even those in the religious communities have fallen to the more sophisticated forms of scams. We could see now the impact of cyber crime across all ages and spectrum of society.

My job as the Tech Editor and Information and Communications Technology head of Manila Bulletin has made me the unofficial 24/7 tech support guy for my friends. Just last week, I got urgent messages from five of my friends asking about different cyber security issues.

I always tell my friends to be careful when clicking links from emails. Scammers could convincingly copy websites to look the same as the real ones. Check the URL before clicking, hover the cursor on top of the link, check the lower-left corner of your browser. If you don’t recognize the URL, don’t proceed.

Never trust Facebook-sponsored posts immediately. Facebook allows scammers to target you using its platform. If a sponsored post asks you to log in to your account, it’s a scam. Don’t proceed. If you see these scam ads, it means the scammers target you. Using the Facebook algorithm, the scammers know that you are more likely to click their sponsored post.

These are the messages I got from my friends. With the help of some members of the Phillippine Hacking University (PHU) group, we recovered three Facebook and one Instagram accounts. Read on and learn how not to be a victim of cyber scams.

Scammers are out there waiting for your to make that mistake of clicking and engaging with them.

Question: I got a private message asking me to post an article through an instant Facebook article. He will pay 60 dollars per published article and 120 dollars for videos. Is this legit?

Answer: That’s a scam. It happened before. A struggling Facebook page immediately grabbed what seems to be an opportunity. Instead of getting that 60-dollars for the article and 120-dollars for the video, the scammers took over the page. If you agree, the scammers will then ask you to give them access to your Business Manager Account, don’t!. Giving permission will provide them with authority to kick you out as owner/admin of your page.

Question: I got a message that says my Facebook account would be verified and have that blue check after my name. I need to follow the instruction and install an app from someone who claims to be from Facebook.

Answer: That’s a scam. Facebook will never ask you to install an app to verify your account. Be careful. Third-party apps you would install could not only compromise your social media account but also take over your computer.

Question: I got a message from a friend that says I won a government agency raffle. I need first to send PhP 28,500.50 for a tax clearance fee to get the one million-peso prize.

Answer: That’s a scam. Never believe a message like this or its variants. Sometimes, scammers would use your friend’s account to ask for money from you. Never send anything. Verify first if it is really from your friend or that agency who said that you won something.

Question: I think hackers compromised my Facebook account. Someone is accessing it without asking permission. What would I do?

Answer: If you’re worried about the security of your FB account, go to

 https://www.facebook.com/hacked. Facebook will walk you through how to change your password if you think your account is compromised. After following all the instructions, immediately activate the 2FA feature to add an extra layer of protection to your account.

Question: I got a message saying that he has access to my email. As proof, he gave me the old password that I used for my account. He told me that he would forward my incriminating messages and photos to my friends and family if I won’t pay US$100 using bitcoin.

Answer: This is a scam. These criminals usually get email addresses from compromised databases. A breach like this is not your fault. To secure your email, you need to change your password regularly. It would be best to use a password that you could easily remember but difficult for hackers to guess. Don’t worry. A message like this is a scam, and the sender has no access to your email.

Remember, always think before you click.

SMART warns: Don't Be Duped By Scammers

I am glad. I received a press release from Reena J. Villamar, SMART Public Affairs. Very important. I like to share it with you:

Scammers usually target families or relatives of overseas Filipino workers (OFW's), or those who receive regular remittances from abroad. Senders of hoax texts usually claim to be family members, relatives and friends.

"They would pretend to be a family member or a relative, and ask victims to deposit a certain amount of money to various bank or e-money accounts, The money is supposed to help them during an emergency situation, such as escaping from a cruel emplyer by buying a ticket, or money for a medical treatment", said SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto.

"Since the initial reaction is almost always to help fraud victims send money as soon as possible, without confirming the facts with their family members first. When they relaize everything, it's too late", he added.

To avoid falling victim to scammers and losing hard-earned money, text messages or calls (and even emails) from unknown people should be double-checked and confirmed - or just ignored. 

Thanks a lot for reminding Reena J. Villamor, SMART Public Affairs.