Whoscall, a leading global anti-scam application, has reported a striking rise in scam calls in the Philippines during the first quarter of 2025.
Data from Gogolook, the developer behind Whoscall, revealed a staggering 74 percent increase in scam calls compared to the previous quarter. The number of scam calls surged to 351,699 in the first quarter from 201,760 in the fourth quarter of 2024. The year-on-year growth is even more alarming at more than three times from the 108,157 recorded in January-March quarter of 2024.
Gogolook Philippines Country Head, Mel Migriño, acknowledged the sharp rise in scam calls, attributing it to scammers’ adaptation of new tactics. While the decline in SMS scams in recent months is a positive development, the surge in phone-based fraud suggests that scammers are increasingly targeting individuals via direct voice communications.
The rise in scam calls coincides with a significant reduction in text-based scams. SMS scams in the first qurter decreased by about 69 percent to 648,239 from 2,079,968 cases in the fourth quarter of 2024. The drop reflects the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among government agencies, the private sector, and civic groups to combat digital fraud.
Migriño highlighted the importance of the continued public awareness and adaptation to evolving scams. “While we’ve made strides in reducing SMS scams, the rise in scam calls underscores the need for ongoing vigilance,” she said. Scam calls in the first quarter primarily targeted financial schemes, including fake loan offers and investment fraud.
As scammers refine their strategies, Migriño said it is necessary to empower users with anti-scam tools and fostering a culture of vigilance to protect against growing fraud risks.
