CICC, Scam Watch Pilipinas renew collaboration to strengthen national anti-scam hotline 1326

• IN PHOTO: (left) CICC Deputy Executive Director Asec. Aboy Paraiso and (right) Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel De Guzman.

TechWatch PH Staff

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and citizen-led campaign Scam Watch Pilipinas have reaffirmed their collaboration to enhance public awareness, improve the feedback mechanism, and intensify the nationwide promotion of the National Anti-Scam Hotline 1326.

CICC Deputy Executive Director Asec. Aboy Paraiso and Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel De Guzman are working closely on initiatives aimed at boosting the visibility of the 1326 hotline and ensuring that victims of online fraud and scams have an accessible, responsive channel for reporting incidents.

“This renewed collaboration underscores our shared commitment to protecting Filipinos in the digital space,” said De Guzman. “By working with the CICC, we aim not only to make scam reporting easier and more effective but also to ensure that Hotline 1326 becomes a household number for every Filipino online user.”

Asec. Aboy Paraiso emphasized CICC’s commitment to improving the system: “We are continuously working to enhance the hotline and its feedback mechanism so that we can better assist victims of scams. Our goal is to make 1326 more responsive, more efficient, and more accessible to every Filipino. We also want to assure the public that CICC will do its best to support victims and coordinate appropriate action.”

A concrete example of this collaboration’s effectiveness was demonstrated earlier this month when Caritas Philippines and Alay Kapwa regained full control of their hacked Facebook page in less than 24 hours, thanks to the swift support of CICC and Scam Watch Pilipinas.

Photo screen grab from Caritas Ph Facebook Page.

In a public statement, Caritas Philippines extended its “deepest thanks” to CICC and Scam Watch Pilipinas for their effective assistance, which restored their page swiftly and allowed their mission of “sharing hope” to continue.

The case underscores the growing importance of inter-agency and civic cooperation in tackling online threats that affect both individuals and organizations.

The collaboration will focus on advocacy campaigns, public education efforts, digital feedback systems, and the extensive promotion of Hotline 1326 through both traditional and digital media. This includes strategic communication, grassroots outreach, and partnerships with media outlets and content creators to ensure broad public reach.

The 1326 hotline, launched in 2023, serves as a centralized platform where victims of scams can report incidents directly to government authorities. The initiative has become a key component of the national cybersecurity and digital safety strategy.

Scam Watch Pilipinas has been instrumental in promoting scam awareness, organizing educational drives, and supporting government initiatives aimed at combating digital fraud.

Scam Watch Pilipinas recently launched Scam Vault PH, an online repository of verified scam reports submitted by the public.

As online scams and fraud become increasingly sophisticated, both organizations have reiterated the importance of sustained public vigilance and multi-stakeholder collaboration in countering cyber threats.