- Filipinos have another tool to turn to before clicking suspicious links or sending money to potential scammers, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the banking industry, and civic technology group BetterGov.ph work to strengthen online scam prevention.
- At the center of the effort is ScamCheck.ph, an AI-assisted platform that lets users check suspicious messages and screenshots for potential signs of fraud. The tool is being promoted through the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines’ (BMAP) campaign, “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna.”
- BMAP launched the campaign on October 12 at the BSP Head Office in Manila, alongside the Philippine kickoff of Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional initiative led by the ASEAN Foundation with funding from Google.org.
Filipinos have another tool to turn to before clicking suspicious links or sending money to potential scammers, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the banking industry, and civic technology group BetterGov.ph work to strengthen online scam prevention.
At the center of the effort is ScamCheck.ph, an AI-assisted platform that lets users check suspicious messages and screenshots for potential signs of fraud. The tool is being promoted through the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines’ (BMAP) campaign, “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna.”
BMAP launched the campaign on October 12 at the BSP Head Office in Manila, alongside the Philippine kickoff of Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional initiative led by the ASEAN Foundation with funding from Google.org.
BetterGov.ph brings scam-checking technology to the public
ScamCheck.ph was developed through a collaboration between BetterGov.ph and Metrobank before BMAP adopted the platform for its industry-wide campaign.
The platform allows Filipinos to paste suspicious text messages, upload screenshots, or forward suspicious emails to check@scamcheck.ph for an AI-assisted assessment. It also provides educational resources about common scams and guidance on how to report suspected fraud.
These features give users another way to examine questionable messages before responding, clicking links, sharing personal information, or transferring money.
The tool is intended to make scam awareness more accessible, particularly for people who may struggle to identify fraudulent messages on their own. However, its AI-generated assessments are not definitive, and users should verify suspicious claims through official channels.
Users should also conceal sensitive information, including account numbers, passwords, and one-time PINs, before submitting messages or screenshots.
BSP and ASEAN partners strengthen scam awareness
The ScamCheck.ph campaign was launched alongside Scam Ready ASEAN, which aims to equip three million people across Southeast Asia with practical skills to recognize, avoid, and respond to online scams.
The initiative also seeks to develop 2,000 master trainers who can bring scam-prevention lessons to their communities and organizations.
BSP's participation reflects the central bank's efforts to make digital financial services safer as more Filipinos use online banking, e-wallets, and electronic payments. BMAP, meanwhile, is using its banking industry network to encourage consumers to verify suspicious communications before acting on them.
The initiative also brings together stakeholders from financial institutions, regulators, technology and telecommunications companies, law enforcement agencies, and consumer groups.
By combining a practical checking tool with public education and coordinated efforts across sectors, the partners aim to help more Filipinos recognize scam attempts and make safer decisions online.
CICC gives scam victims a channel to report fraud
Scam prevention also depends on giving victims a way to report incidents and seek assistance.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) operates the government's anti-scam hotline, 1326, which people can use to report online scams and related cybercrime incidents. The agency's official materials also provide reporting instructions through its website and other contact channels.
CICC was not identified in the available announcements as a direct partner in the ScamCheck.ph launch. However, it is a relevant government resource for Filipinos who encounter or fall victim to online fraud.
Victims should also contact their bank or e-wallet provider immediately if their account or money may be at risk. Reports to a financial institution and a government agency serve different purposes, so filing one does not automatically notify the other.
The BSP has also signed information-sharing agreements with CICC, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to support investigations into scams and related offenses.
Together, these efforts give Filipinos more resources to check suspicious messages, learn how scams operate, and report incidents through the appropriate channels.
What Filipinos should remember
ScamCheck.ph offers an additional layer of assistance, but it cannot guarantee that a message, seller, or transaction is legitimate. Users should independently verify claims through official websites, apps, or customer-service channels and avoid sharing confidential information with unverified contacts.
If money has already been sent or an account may have been compromised, contact the relevant bank or e-wallet provider immediately and report the incident through the appropriate authorities, including CICC's hotline 1326.
The combined efforts of BSP, BMAP, BetterGov.ph, Metrobank, the ASEAN Foundation, Google.org, and other public and private stakeholders give Filipinos more ways to recognize potential scams and respond before further harm occurs.