Back to all articles
Advisories

Got a message that feels like a scam? Try checking it with this new AI tool

3 min readBy KasKasan Buddies
Published
Last editorial update
No recorded update

BMAP has launched ScamCheck.ph, an AI-assisted tool that lets Filipinos assess suspicious messages and emails as part of a regional push to prevent online fraud.

  • Filipinos now have an AI-assisted tool to check suspicious messages, emails, and offers before clicking links or sending money, as banks and regulators step up efforts to prevent online scams.
  • The Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) launched its “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna” campaign on October 12, introducing ScamCheck.ph as a resource for people who want to assess potentially fraudulent messages before acting on them.
  • The launch took place at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Head Office in Manila alongside the Philippine kickoff of the Scam Ready ASEAN program.

BMAP has launched ScamCheck.ph, an AI-assisted tool that lets Filipinos assess suspicious messages and emails as part of a regional push to prevent online fraud.

  • Filipinos now have an AI-assisted tool to check suspicious messages, emails, and offers before clicking links or sending money, as banks and regulators step up efforts to prevent online scams.
  • The Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) launched its “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna” campaign on October 12, introducing ScamCheck.ph as a resource for people who want to assess potentially fraudulent messages before acting on them.
  • The launch took place at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Head Office in Manila alongside the Philippine kickoff of the Scam Ready ASEAN program.

Filipinos now have an AI-assisted tool to check suspicious messages, emails, and offers before clicking links or sending money, as banks and regulators step up efforts to prevent online scams.

The Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) launched its “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna” campaign on October 12, introducing ScamCheck.ph as a resource for people who want to assess potentially fraudulent messages before acting on them.

The launch took place at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Head Office in Manila alongside the Philippine kickoff of the Scam Ready ASEAN program.

The event brought together representatives from financial institutions, regulators, technology and telecommunications companies, law enforcement agencies, and consumer groups.

How to check suspicious messages

ScamCheck.ph lets users paste suspicious messages or upload screenshots for an AI-assisted assessment. The tool supports Filipino languages and informal combinations such as Tagalog, Bisaya, and Taglish, making it easier to examine messages without needing to interpret technical cybersecurity language.

Users can also forward suspicious emails to check@scamcheck.ph for a plain-language risk assessment.

The website offers additional resources, including guides to common scams, tips for checking suspicious messages and financial institutions, stories from scam victims, and instructions for reporting fraud or securing compromised accounts.

The tool is intended to help users identify warning signs before they act, but its assessment should not be treated as a guarantee that a message is safe or fraudulent.

ScamCheck.ph warns that AI-generated assessments may be inaccurate. Users should independently verify claims involving money, account access, or personal information through official channels.

The site also advises users to hide names, account numbers, passwords, and one-time PINs before uploading screenshots. According to its website, submitted text and images are processed by AI providers, although ScamCheck.ph says it does not save the uploads.

Regional campaign aims to reach 3 million people

The launch coincided with Scam Ready ASEAN, a program led by the ASEAN Foundation with US$5 million in support from Google.org.

Running from 2025 to 2027, the initiative aims to equip 3 million people across Southeast Asia with practical scam-prevention skills and train 2,000 master trainers to conduct community and organizational sessions.

Its activities include digital learning tools, public awareness campaigns, and training designed to help people recognize and respond to scams, including those involving artificial intelligence. The program also aims to train local educators who can reach more than 550,000 learners directly.

For the Philippine rollout, 105 master trainers are expected to support workshops later in 2026, with many coming from local banks and the financial industry, according to GMA News.

The effort comes as online fraud becomes more sophisticated and increasingly crosses borders. The ASEAN Foundation estimates that Southeast Asia lost up to US$23.6 billion to online scams and fraud in 2024.

ScamCheck.ph gives users another way to assess suspicious messages, but it should be treated as an additional precaution rather than a substitute for verification.

When a message asks for money or sensitive account details, users should contact the supposed sender or financial institution through a verified channel before proceeding.