MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have recorded a 100 percent increase in phishing incidents activities during the ongoing Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles bared Saturday.
In an online press conference of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Nograles warned the public to be cautious about giving their bank details online.
“While this has helped many of us cope with the limitations brought about by the ECQ, the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas report a 100% increase in phishing cases… and warn everyone to be cautious when it comes to your bank details,” said Nograles, who is also the spokesperson of the IATF-EID.
“Bale ang modus operandi ng phishing ay may taong magpapanggap na empleyado ng bangko mo at hihingin nila ang detalye ng account mo tulad ng account number o password,” Nograles explained the scheme.
(So the modus operandi of phishing is an individual will claim to be an employee of the bank. He will then ask for your bank details such as your account number or password.)
“Wag nyo pong ibigay; hindi po hihingin ng banko niyo yan – kahit kelan man, kahit sa ano mang pagkakataon (Do not reveal it. Banks will not ask you to reveal those. Not now, not ever),” he said.
The NBI previously cautioned the public against scams that use the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis as a front to steal their personal information or their money.
Nograles also warned the public about giving donations online.
“Wina-warn din po tayo na mag-ingat po sa mga humihingi ng donasyon online; may mga kriminal na nagpapanggap na kasapi sa mga respetadong institusyon (We are warning everyone about giving donations online; there are criminals who deceive and claim they are part of a reputable institution),” he said. “We encourage everyone to double-check and verify these requests for donations.”
“Kung may mga reklamo po kayo hinggil dito, pwede nyo pong i-report ito sa NBI website, (Should you have any concerns about this, please report it to the NBI website” he added.
Luzon is still under a period of enhanced community quarantine as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to soar.
As of Friday, the Philippines has recorded 5,878 COVID-19 cases, with 487 recoveries and 387 fatalities.