PROTECT FILIPINO CONSUMERS FROM ONLINE SCAMS!
July 28, 2021According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, digital transactions exponentially increased by over 5,000 percent during the pandemic as people would have to conduct business online in lieu of face-to-face transactions. However, the e-commerce boom has also provided an opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of unwitting online consumers.
CitizenWatch Philippines calls on government regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and other telecommunications stakeholders to crack down on these online scammers by strengthening policies and promoting awareness and information.
We also need active private sector engagements, like the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) of the Department of Education in partnership with Globe Telecom, which integrates modules on digital citizenship, online safety, and responsible use of technology in the K-12 curriculum.
Improving internet speeds and connectivity is important to digital readiness but our digital space must be safe where Filipino consumers are protected from online scams like phishing, smishing and others forms of exploitation.