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Who to call first after falling victim to an online scam 

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JEFF CAPARAS

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has observed spikes in online scams days ahead of an occasion or holiday in the country.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/21/21/cybercrime-up-as-criminals-professionalize-expert">Cybercrime up amid pandemic as cybercriminals ‘professionalize’: expert</a></div><p>CICC is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).</p><p>CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos, however, claimed that the situation now is much better compared than 2 years ago.</p><p>“Kung titingnan mo, alarming, [pero] nasa tama pa rin tayo because we instituted reforms... Unlike 2022 grabe talaga. Now, in 2023, gradually bumababa, mag-i-spike but it is a seasonal issue, tulad nito meron tayong occasion, inaagapan natin bago lumala,&quot; said Ramos.</p><div><strong>WHO TO CALL FIRST?</strong></div><p> Ramos encouraged victims of online scams to immediately report the incident to concerned financial institutions.</p><p> “Pag ang pera ang unang tinira sa iyo, ang una niyong pagre-reportan hindi kami, hindi ang pulis, [kundi] ang una niyong tawagan ay yung bangko niyo, para maging aware sila,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Pangalawa, yung pamilya niyo, [then] saka ninyo ire-report sa amin para meron mag-follow up nun para sa inyo.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/31/22/incoming-dict-chief-says-to-focus-on-anti-cybercrime-drive">Incoming DICT chief Ivan Uy to prioritize cybercrime prevention</a></div><p> “Ang recovery ng pera mahirap lalo na kung late mo na na-report, but if you could provide immediate information, the financial institution can freeze the accounts. Yung ang nakakalimutan ng lahat eh. Tatakbo ka kung kani-kanino, dapat una mong unahin eh [kung nasaan ang] pera mo, sila may kapasidad to freeze this,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/6/marcos-orders-pnp-address-rising-cybercrime-cases-1633">Marcos orders PNP: Address rising cybercrime cases</a></div><p> With the Chinese New Year looming, the CICC distributed tarpaulins with “Report Cybercrime” written in Chinese on business establishments in Binondo, Manila as part of their awareness campaign.</p><p>CICC added that the public can report any cybercrime-related incidents to them, from financial scams to sextortion, and they can do so anonymously.</p><div><br/></div>

<p>CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos claimed that the situation now is much better than 2 years ago.</p>

CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos claimed that the situation now is much better than 2 years ago.