Whoscall unites gov’t, private sector, advocacy groups vs online scams

• IN PHOTO: Gio Tingson, head of public policy at Meta Philippines; Paulo C. Ullado, Director III at the Office of the Deputy Executive Director of the CICC; Mel Migriño, Gogolook Philippines General Manager and Country Head; Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of Globe Telecom Inc.; and Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman.

As scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence, impersonation and multiple digital channels to target Filipinos, government agencies and private-sector groups are pushing for closer cooperation and stronger public awareness against online fraud.

Whoscall convened its first Anti-Scam Community Meet-Up at The Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City, bringing together government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, technology firms, academe, professional associations and advocacy groups involved in combating digital scams.

The event was held in collaboration with Globe Telecom and Scam Watch Pilipinas, with support from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and Meta.

The gathering forms part of Whoscall’s broader “Know the Unknown” campaign, which encourages users to verify suspicious communications, check potentially malicious URLs and report suspected scam activity.

Mel Migriño, Gogolook Philippines General Manager and Country Head, said expanding the anti-scam community is critical in reaching more Filipinos, particularly at the grassroots level.

“Our primary objective here is really to grow our base because we believe the moment that we grow our base through advocacy partnership, strategic partnerships like the one we have with Globe and Scam Watch Pilipinas. And of course our community partners, Through them, we reach the different profiles, we reach the grassroots,” Migriño said.

Migriño also warned that AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly capable of targeting personal and financial information.

“We know that with the different emergence, right, of AI powered scams that steals your personal data, steals your digital identity, and of course, ’yung pinakamakasakit sa lahat, that steals your financial information, right?” Migriño said.

Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and corporate communications officer of Globe Telecom Inc., highlighted Globe’s GoSafe program, which focuses on customer education, security features and protection measures.

“The First Anti-Scam Community Meet-Up demonstrates how partnerships can empower communities and stakeholders to take control of their digital safety,” Crisanto said. “By joining forces with Whoscall along with ScamWatch Pilipinas, we are extending our commitment to help Filipinos navigate the digital world safely and confidently.”

Globe also presented GoSafe’s security features through Derick Adil, head of AI and privacy governance at Globe.

Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of the Anti-Scam Quad Model, which brings together behavioral change, community participation, institutional cooperation and technology-enabled reporting as part of a coordinated response against scams.

“Fighting scams cannot be the responsibility of one sector alone. Through the Quad Model of Scam Watch Pilipinas, we bring together behavioral change, community participation, institutional cooperation, and technology-enabled reporting so that government, industry, and ordinary Filipinos can work together against scams,” de Guzman said.

Paulo C. Ullado, Director III at the Office of the Deputy Executive Director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, also reminded Filipinos that technology alone cannot stop scams and that individual awareness remains an important part of online safety.

“Verify before you trust. Be suspicious. Stay alert. Scammers rely on your trust and urgency to succeed. Never share OTPs, password, or personal info,” Ullado said.

Ullado also underscored the role of public awareness and community participation in strengthening the country’s response to scams.

“The strongest firewall is an informed Filipino. Awareness, vigilance and community action are our best defense,” Ullado added.

Meta likewise highlighted the importance of cooperation as scammers increasingly misuse the identities of celebrities, business leaders and other public personalities.

“We need to work together. Magkaroon man kami ng AI power detection which removes the content before it’s reported,” said Gio Tingson, head of public policy at Meta.

Tingson said Meta has also received reports involving the misuse of the identities of public figures, including personalities who do not maintain Facebook accounts.

“Maraming nagre-report sa amin ngayon, mga business tycoons, public personalities na walang Facebook accounts. Sila yung ginagamit ngayon ng mga crypto scammers eh,” Tingson said.

During the gathering, Tingson also discussed Meta’s detection technologies and user education initiatives aimed at addressing scam content and helping users recognize suspicious activity.

The Anti-Scam Community Meet-Up reflects a broader effort to bring together technology platforms, telecommunications companies, government agencies, financial institutions and community organizations as scams become more sophisticated and increasingly move across platforms.

Through initiatives such as “Know the Unknown,” participating organizations are seeking to combine technology, public education and community participation to help Filipinos recognize suspicious activity before scammers can turn trust and urgency into financial losses.

The meet-up was also attended by representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Globe Telecom, RCBC, BPI, Asia Pacific College (APC), and 1LGBTQ+ Pilipinas, among other organizations, reflecting the broader participation of government, private sector, academic, and community groups in the anti-scam discussion.