Filipinos are now encountering scam attempts at a pace that mirrors daily life, with new data showing that fraud has become a routine threat that cuts across households, digital platforms, and financial habits.
A study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), conducted with 1,000 Filipino adults and weighted to represent the national population, reveals that 77 percent of respondents came across at least one scam attempt in the past year. The findings translate to an average of 239 exposures per person annually. The group estimates that these incidents collectively drained about P280.5 billion nationwide over a 12-month period.
GASA’s analysis places investment-related schemes at the top of the most common frauds affecting Filipinos, with unexpected money lures and shopping scams following closely. Many victims traced these attempts to social media channels — especially Facebook and Telegram — as well as text messages and private messaging apps.
The financial strain becomes evident in the numbers: 31 percent of adults acknowledged losing money to scammers, and victims lost an average of P11,896. Digital wallets were identified as the primary target for illicit transfers, ahead of bank transactions and cash dealings. Despite this widespread impact, only 11 percent of victims managed to retrieve any part of their stolen funds.
GASA director for Asia Pacific Brian Hanley said the damage goes far beyond compromised accounts. “When nearly one in three Filipinos loses money to a scam, it’s not just a digital safety issue. It’s a household stability issue,” he said. He added that many people are forced to limit daily expenses while carrying the emotional burden long after the fraud occurs. “Solving this requires partners working together instead of fighting the problem in silos.”
Emotional repercussions were also documented. GASA reported that 88 percent of victims experienced stress linked to the incident, while almost half said their mental health suffered as a result. One in five victims said they had to incur new debt after being scammed. The public mood reflects growing resentment, with more than half expressing support for harsher penalties for scammers, including long-term imprisonment. Another 22 percent want full reimbursement for victims.
The report notes that most victims took action by notifying a payment platform or service provider. However, 40 percent said nothing happened after reporting, and 19 percent were unsure whether any steps were taken.
The surge in fraud-related activity, GASA warns, is eroding confidence in the Philippines’ rapidly expanding digital economy. The group emphasized that consumer protection must advance in step with the country’s accelerating use of mobile payments, online shopping, and digital banking.
The research was produced with Mastercard and Gogolook’s Whoscall, a scam-detection and caller-ID app. Mastercard Philippines country manager Jason Crasto said the threat has moved beyond sporadic incidents. “Mastercard is proud to collaborate with GASA and Whoscall on this report to shed further light on how scammers are impacting the payments landscape, and continues to invest in smarter, safer technologies and cross-industry collaboration to protect Filipinos and ensure that digital progress benefits everyone,” he said.
Mel Migriño, Philippines country head and general manager of Gogolook, noted that fraud tactics are evolving alongside the tools people use every day. “Presently, we’ve seen a surge of scammers using AI technology and social media to take advantage of the Filipinos, making it harder for them to recognize scams and easier to fall victim,” she said.
She added that Whoscall is working to roll out new features to help users identify suspicious activity, including scam alerts and content-checking tools. “These necessary features of the app are free for all users and we hope to strengthen our collaboration with various institutions to help provide awareness of and access to the app to strengthen community protection.”
