MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Scam Watch Pilipinas launches the “Kontra Scam Attitude” campaign in time for Safer Internet Day.
Safer Internet Day occurs every second Tuesday of February.
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Presidential Proclamation No. 417, “Declaring the Second Tuesday of February Every Year as Safer Internet Day for Children in the Philippines,” established its observance.
“We encourage all Filipinos to adopt four key attitudes to avoid falling victim to scams,” Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-founder Jocel De Guzman said:
- Magdamot (Be Stingy): “Always protect your personal information online and exercise your right to privacy,” De Guzman reminded the public.
- Magduda (Be Suspicious): Take time to verify online offers before sharing personal information. Also, be wary of those that seem “too good to be true.”
- Mang-isnob (Ignore Suspicious Messages): Also known as “Be a Snob,” De Guzman reminds everyone to save important contact details in an address book. Consequently, they can avoid suspicious calls and messages easily.
- Magsumbong (Report): Scam Watch urges the public to report scam incidents. Recovering lost money is slim, but reporting provides information that helps authorities track down scam operations.
“These may seem basic, but people often forget them while using the internet,” De Guzman stated.”
“Practicing these attitudes can significantly reduce the risk of getting scammed,” he added.
Report scam incidents to the Inter-Agency Response Center (IARC) via hotline 1326.
It’s a toll-free hotline that operates 24/7, from Mondays to Sundays, including holidays.
You may also contact numbers 0947-714-7105 for Smart, 0966-976-5971 for Globe, and 0991-481-4225 for DITO.