As summer unfolds in the Philippines, the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), in partnership with Scam Watch Pilipinas, is warning travelers to be cautious of a wave of seasonal travel scams.
PNP-ACG Acting Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said that recognizing these scams is crucial to fostering digital literacy, especially on social media platforms where fraudulent travel offers thrive.
“Building awareness is our first line of defense,” Yang said, highlighting the group’s push for proactive education.
Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-Founder Jocel de Guzman echoed this, unveiling their “14 Travel Scams” campaign, which follows their earlier initiatives like the “12 Scams of Christmas” and “8 Love Scam Profiles.”
Common scams include fake accommodations, bogus flight deals, fake Wi-Fi networks, and social media cons selling nonexistent airline tickets or SIM cards. More insidious schemes involve hidden cameras, rigged taxis, and fake agents at transport hubs.
Meanwhile, anti-scam app Whoscall noted a major shift: SMS scams have dropped 68.3% from last year, but scam calls are on the rise.
Officials urge victims to report incidents via Hotline 1326 or the PNP-ACG Hotline at 17 or (02) 8722-0650. As scams evolve, so must public awareness.
A significant shift in scam tactics has been observed in the Philippines, with anti-scam app Whoscall reporting a sharp decline in SMS scams—down 68.3 percent year-over-year—and a simultaneous rise in scam calls during the first quarter of 2025. The app’s data shows SMS scam numbers dropped from over 2 million to 648,239.
