Still getting text scams and fraudulent emails?

Mobile apps are now working double time to help keep transactions safe, especially as the holiday season fast approaches. With the recent proliferation of 'personalized' text scams which now include users' names, e-wallets have been beefing up their security features with added layers of data protection.

On top of these personalized SMS scams, fraudsters are also targeting users with the false claim that their e-wallet apps have been hacked or compromised.

Leading e-wallet platform GCash assures the public that the data of its 71 million users are secured. The mobile wallet platform adds that user security is a top priority.

But how can you secure your e-wallet account and avoid being prey to phishers and scammers?

Tips to secure your e-wallet

Never click the link. Phishing scams usually provide a link to bait users into providing their account information.

Do not engage with fake customer service. Only use official GCash channels for concerns. All issues about your account are solved via the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com

Deal with official channels.

Ensure you are dealing only with your e-wallet's official social media channels.

Never share your MPIN and OTP.

Never share your MPIN (mobile pin number) and your OTP (one-time password/authentication code) to anyone. Use an MPIN that is hard to guess (avoid birthdays or your previous passwords), change your MPIN regularly, and transact only with trusted merchants. Official representatives from GCash will never ask for your MPIN and OTP.

Double check before engaging with "GCash Representatives"

GCash representatives are not available on chat apps like Messenger. Fraudsters trick victims into introducing themselves as part of the e-wallet's support team, but they are only after your personal information.

Security features

GCash cares for its millions of customers through its advanced cybersecurity enhancements, which aim to protect them from scams and account takeovers.

GCash has earlier added another layer of protection as they rolled out a user anonymity feature when sending money.

On top of this new feature, GCash has also moved confirmation messages for "SEND MONEY", "BUY LOAD", "BANK TRANSFER" to an in-app inbox from SMS to help improve security. The e-wallet app has spent around P1.1 billion to boost its capabilities in detecting and blocking spam messages.

With this migration, the e-wallet app ensures its users that they will only get legitimate messages regarding their GCash transactions.

So, remember to follow these tips to have a secure and worry-free holiday spending and saving experience.

To know more about GCash's security features, click here. For other information, click here.