PNP, GCash Nab 4 Police Officers for Robbery and Extortion

Four uniformed personnel from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) were recently arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP), aided by the popular finance app GCash,  following complaints reported by detainees of alleged robbery and extortion in exchange for their release without charges.

The complaint included unauthorized GCash money transfer from the detainees’  smartphone while in the custody of the said police officers.

According to the first complainant alias 'Gabi', the five of them were apprehended by the suspects for illegal gambling. They were taken to their barracks after confiscating gambling funds which reportedly amounted to P75,000. He was then released without charges with his confiscated phone returned to him. The latter soon discovered that there was an unauthorized transfer from his GCash account of P11,929 to another GCash account, allegedly while his phone was in the custody of the suspected police officers.

Meanwhile, Gabi's son under the alias of 'Maglasang', paid the police officers P5,000 cash in exchange for his release without charges.

As part of its ongoing initiative to educate the public on safety while engaging in online transactions, GCash continues to remind its users to practice extra vigilance and awareness of the various modes of scams, fraud, and cybercrime and to report to the authorities in case of possible unauthorized access of their smartphones while under the custody of others.

For help and assistance, contact the PNP-ACG via their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560, 0998-598-8116, or email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.

To report scams and fraudulent activities, visit the official GCash Help Center in the app or at help.gcash.com, message Gigi, and type, “I want to report a scam.”

GCash will never send private messages to ask for personal information, especially the MPIN and One-Time Pin (OTP). Customers can also contact the official GCash hotline 2882 for queries and other concerns.

PNP-ACG Warns Against Phishing Malwares in Gaming Apps

Downloaded games are a popular form of entertainment for many Filipinos. However, some of these may contain phishing malwares, according to a recent joint investigation by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and GCash, the country's leading mobile wallet.

The most common red flag to look out for in downloaded gaming apps is a blatant request for private information such as credit card numbers, or passwords for social media and bank accounts. Most of the time, these gaming apps contain malwares that will trick players into clicking a phishing link. These are common in apps where players buy character upgrades or items and play-to-earn games.

“Links inside a gaming app scam can easily be distinguished because they use irregular formats like (http://gc.ashpin). Clicking on such links redirects users to obviously fraudulent websites and such actions should immediately be aborted,” advises GCash chief risk officer Ingrid Rose Ann Beroña.

For gambling apps such as e-bingo platforms, users are advised to check if the company that created them is listed on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) website.

P/Capt. Michelle Sabino of the PNP-ACG adds, "Gamers should be wary of seemingly trustworthy persons or agencies initiating chats but soliciting personal information. Legitimate persons or institutions will never ask for such sensitive information."

Both PNP-ACG and GCash emphasize the importance of being cautious towards emails or text messages that request for personal information. They also advise against clicking any embedded links. Regularly updating one’s mobile phone or computer software, which includes cybersecurity features, is also recommended. Users are also advised to create strong passwords for all online accounts.

Users are encouraged to report incidents of scams, fraud, and cybercrime to the PNP-ACG through its hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116 or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.

To report a scam, visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com or message Gigi on the website and type "I want to report a scam." Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.ph.


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About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country's leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.

About Fuse Lending, Inc.
Fuse Lending, Inc is a company that offers simple, affordable, and secure loans in the Philippines. Its primary goal is to enable individuals and small businesses to achieve financial security and growth through various digital lending products. Fuse Lending is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines. It’s also regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

About CIMB Bank Philippines
CIMB Bank Philippines is a digital-only commercial bank providing innovative mobile-first digital banking solutions and services. Named by Forbes as the Top # 1 Bank in the Philippines in its 2023 World’s Best Banks ranking, it has garnered 83 prestigious international awards and is a leader in digital banking products and services in the Philippines. Currently serving around 7 million Filipinos and over 2.5 million lending customers, CIMB Bank Philippines is also part of the CIMB Group, one of ASEAN's leading banks in over 16 global markets.

PNP-ACG Gives Tips on How to Avoid Lottery Scams

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the country, remind the public to be careful against so-called lottery scams.

"The modus operandi of these scams begins with victims receiving notices of winning a grand prize for a competition, lottery, or sweepstakes. Scammers will send these announcements through email, phone calls, text messages, or social media. To claim the prize, victims are asked to pay for insurance, taxes, bank fees, and courier charges. As if that wasn't enough, the scammers also request personal financial information to verify the victim's identity, which they exploit to initiate an account takeover," said PNP-ACG Spokesperson, PCapt Michelle Sabino.

To avoid these scams, the PNP-ACG and GCash are providing valuable tips to the public.

Tip #1. It is important to carefully inspect any envelopes received from sweepstakes mailers, paying close attention to the details.

Tip #2. Never divulge personal information to individuals who solicit it through email, SMS, or phone calls claiming that you have won a prize.

Tip #3. Always take the time to read and understand the fine print in lottery or sweepstakes forms, ensuring you are aware of important information such as the start and end dates, methods of participation, and any legal disclaimers.

“By following these precautions, you can safeguard yourself against potential scammers and cybercriminals,” Sabino explained.

GCash reiterates its warning to users to never share their MPIN or OTP to anyone and to avoid clicking unknown links from websites, emails, or messaging apps.

For assistance, users can contact the PNP-ACG through their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.

To report scams and other fraudulent activities, users can also visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com, message Gigi, and type "I want to report a scam." Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.ph.

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About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country's leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively. 

GCash and PNP nab "Love Romance" Scammer

GCash, the country’s no.1 mobile wallet app, together with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Cordillera of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), has uncovered and arrested the individual behind a Love Romance scam. Suspect Racel Guno allegedly swindled money from multiple chats using a fake Facebook profile named “Carter Gudson Gudson”. The latest victim was said to have transferred P84,927 to Guno’s account. After the transfer, the victim was blocked on Guno’s fake Facebook and Messenger accounts.  

By working together closely, GCash and the RACU COR implemented the Warrant of Arrest issued by Hon. Isagani G. Calderon, presiding judge of RTC First Judicial Region, Branch 8, La Trinidad Benguet issued on February 4, 2021 that resulted in the successful arrest of Guno in her condominium in Parañaque City. 

Following this incident, GCash reminds its users that they can better protect their GCash accounts by following these tips:

Check authenticity of messages from SMS, emails, and other social network sites. Online scammers have been rampant recently. Their usual scheme is using phishing links to victimize bank account holders through emails and even social networking sites. Be wary of these links especially if they come from suspicious sources. Legitimate messages only come from an official GCash site (https://www.gcash.com/), and verified Facebook and Instagram pages (https://www.facebook.com/gcashofficial, https://www.instagram.com/gcashofficial/). Always remember that GCash will never ask for your MPIN, One-Time Password (OTP), and the CVV on your credit card.

 

Never share your MPIN and OTP. The MPIN may be used to access your account. While scammers can get very creative in trying to get this data from you, their end goal will always be the same: getting your MPIN, OTP, or CVV — three most important data that you should only keep to yourself at all times. So this should immediately be your sign to stop the transaction and report the scammer via the GCash User Complaint Form (https://help.gcash.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034636613-GCash-User-Complaint-Form). Another option is to text 2882 from your Globe number to get the assistance you need.

Know how the Customer Protect Program works. GCash has added the Customer Protect Program to their product, which is designed to help detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Qualified users are eligible for compensation for unauthorized transactions in case of identity theft and/or loss of mobile phone. The amount of compensation depends on the validation level of users. Fully verified users may be compensated for up to Php100,000. 

Cashless transactions are now an integral part of our daily living. That’s why scammers have become extremely creative in victimizing frequent users of the e-wallet app. By knowing these tips from GCash, you can be more aware of their schemes, and consequently better protect your account from fraudsters and continue to use the mobile wallet for various convenient services from buying essentials to paying for utilities. 

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.

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About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 3.9M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 94k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 51 million Filipinos in the country today.