The Philippines is deeply embroiled in a years-long online scam crisis. According to the latest survey report released by the globally renowned intelligence company TransUnion, the online scam rate in the Philippines reached 13% in 2024, far exceeding the global average of 5.4%, and this figure has remained high for five consecutive years.
More worryingly, data from the first half of 2025 shows that this trend is still worsening.
This report reveals a grim reality: in the past three months, about 70% of the Filipino population received scam texts, calls, or emails, a proportion significantly higher than the global average of 53%.
Even more alarming, between November 2023 and December 2024, up to 34% of Filipinos actually suffered financial losses, also higher than the global average of 29%.
A deeper analysis of the data reveals that social media and online shopping platforms have become hotspots for scam activities. In 2024, the suspected scam incident rate on these platforms in the Philippines soared to 19.2%, far above the global average of 11.6%.
The head of TransUnion's Philippine branch pointed out: "Approximately 78% of the population in the Philippines are social media users, this extremely high penetration rate provides scammers with plenty of opportunities."
It is noteworthy that scamming methods are constantly evolving and upgrading. From early "prize scams" and "fake bank notifications" to today's more sophisticated "phishing websites" and "social engineering scams," criminals' tactics are becoming increasingly difficult to recognize.
Particularly concerning is that many scam activities involve transnational criminal groups, which utilize the Philippines' relatively lax internet regulation environment and high English proficiency to turn it into an "ideal base" for implementing global scams.
In response to this severe situation, the Philippine government has recently taken a series of measures, including strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, enhancing the security verification processes of the banking system, and conducting nationwide anti-scam education.
However, experts point out that to completely reverse this situation, more efforts are needed in legislation, law enforcement, and technological prevention.
This five-year-long online scam crisis has not only caused huge economic losses to the Filipino people but has also severely affected the country's digital economy development and international image. As more and more economic activities move online, how to build a safer online environment has become an urgent issue for the Philippines.
