MANILA, Philippines — Scammers in the Philippines are now turning to social media platforms and messaging apps to trick unsuspecting victims, according to a second-quarter 2025 report released by Whoscall, an anti-fraud mobile application.
The report revealed a 28% spike in suspicious links reported between April and June 2025. From 13,602 cases logged in the first quarter, the number jumped to 18,735 in the second quarter. These deceptive links are increasingly being spread through popular platforms such as Facebook, Viber, and Telegram, directing users to malicious or phishing websites.
Sharp Rise in Online Gambling and Reward Scams
The data showed that scams related to online gambling surged by 76%, making it the most common type of fraud during the period. Meanwhile, fake rewards and promotional offers increased by 57%, preying on users hoping to receive free items or prizes. Additionally, bogus loan offers rose by 20%, with scammers pretending to offer financial assistance or quick approval loans to lure victims.
From Text and Calls to Apps
The sharp increase in scam activity on apps and social media platforms comes amid a dramatic decline in traditional scam channels such as SMS and voice calls. Whoscall developers attributed the shift to more effective regulation and blocking of SMS and call-based scams.
In fact, reports of text scams plummeted from 1.28 million in 2024 to only 65,035 this year, while scam calls dropped by 74%.
“The success in controlling scam texts and calls has pushed fraudsters to find new channels,” the Whoscall team said. “Apps and social platforms offer a less regulated space, making them an attractive alternative for spreading scams.”
Government Warns of New Cybercrime Challenge
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) acknowledged that scams embedded within popular digital platforms present a growing challenge for cybersecurity authorities. Many of these fraudulent messages are designed to appear harmless, often disguised as games, surveys, promo notifications, or urgent messages asking users to click links or provide personal data.
CICC urged the public to exercise caution, especially when dealing with links sent by unknown sources, even if they appear to come from legitimate platforms.
Public Urged to Stay Alert
Authorities continue to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and coordinate with tech companies to clamp down on online fraud. Users are encouraged to:
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Verify senders before clicking any link.
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Avoid sharing personal information on unfamiliar websites.
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Report suspicious messages or scams to proper authorities or platforms.
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Use anti-fraud tools and up-to-date security apps, such as Whoscall, to help detect potential threats.
As scammers adapt to tighter regulations on older communication methods, cybersecurity experts emphasize the need for continued vigilance in the digital space.
