Content
creators and celebrities often share their daily dose of comical skits, life
hacks, and shopping ‘budols.’ But aside from spreading entertainment, some of
them also took immediate action to help protect netizens’ hard-earned money
from being stolen through fun and educational videos.
Top
social media stars partnered with leading finance super app GCash to help
spread awareness on e-wallet phishing scams, one of the most rampant
cybercrimes in the country.
● Joshua Garcia and the different e-wallet phishing scams
GCash endorser Joshua Garcia takes the helm in spreading awareness in social media, sharing how e-wallet
phishing scams could come in the form of 1) fake portals in non-PAGCOR
accredited gambling sites, 2) fraudsters who claim to be from GCash saying your
account is on hold, and 3) fake rewards.
● Spotting the red flags with Saab Magalona, Chinkee Tan and
Ayn Bernos
Red
flags are warning signs that may indicate unhealthy relationships, but they
also extend to every day, seemingly-harmless messages that might end up as
scams. Through witty yet educational skits and reminders, singer-podcaster Saab
Magalona, financial guru Chinkee Tan, and writer-entrepreneur Ayn Bernos, also
shared three red flags that could help users spot
each of the e-wallet phishing scams.
● Kaladkaren and Direk Tonet and the wrong kinds of ‘karupukan’
and ‘budol’
Winning
big through online games might seem like a good life hack to earn additional
money, but TV host Kaladkaren shares why non-PAGCOR sites are
literally ‘budol’ – where you can end up losing money instead of earning more.
Meanwhile, it seems that filmmaker-podcaster Direk Tonet Jadaone already knows
that a lot of Filipinos remain ‘marupok’ and oblivious to red flags when it
comes to relationships. However, she reminds everyone in her video: “Alam kong mahilig kang
ma-fall, pero wag sa scam.”
● Davao Conyo and the oversharer’s worst nightmare
Oversharing,
including your personal information such as Mobile Personal Identification
Number (MPIN) and One-Time Password (OTP), can lead to dire consequences. Davao
Conyo, known for making related comedic skits, shares in his video every self-confessed
oversharer’s greatest fear.
● Pipay on why ‘TMI’ is never a good thing
Everyone
has that one ‘bida-bida’ friend. Social media personality Pipay recreates this scenario as a third wheel, ultimately
reminding netizens why sharing too much information is never a good thing,
especially when it’s your personal information at stake.
● AC Soriano and staying secure under pressure
Dubbed
the ‘multi-dogshow superstar’ for impersonating celebrities, AC stages a ‘fast
talk’ segment to remind us not to share
our sensitive information such as MPIN and OTP even when put under pressure.
Spot Red Flags, Don’t Overshare
As
different content creators showed, it is important to be constantly aware of
phishing scams as cybercriminals have been increasingly creative to remain
unsuspicious. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
● Think before clicking a link. Review the sender and the content of
a suspicious message even before responding or clicking on the link. If you are
being offered rewards or prizes, backtrack if you have indeed joined a program
or raffle and verify with the company through another channel. Remember that GCash will never send links via
SMS, email and messaging apps, so never click on links claiming to be from
GCash.
● Only transact through your GCash app. GCash will never ask you to
activate your account through a phone call or through messaging applications.
All transactions are only done through the official GCash app, including
resolving concerns related to your account. If a notice feels rushed, it’s most
likely a phishing scam! Check your account through the GCash app first to
confirm if it is indeed on hold and don’t share your MPIN and OTP to anyone –
even those who claim to be from GCash.
● Carefully read the text messages that come with an OTP. If you receive an OTP
through text message, make it a habit to read the entire message and make sure
that it matches the request you made. If you did not make the request or if it
is different from what you want to do, do not enter your OTP on any site or
send it to anyone, to make sure you are not unknowingly linking your account to
another device.
● Never share your OTP and MPIN. Never provide your personal
information if you did not initiate a request. As a rule, don’t provide
sensitive information, such as your OTP and MPIN, even to your family, friends
and other people claiming to be representatives of banks, companies, service
providers, and government agencies. Remember that GCash will never ask for
these details from you.
As
trusted e-wallet apps like GCash work to ensure that the tools we use for our
everyday financial transactions are fortified with security measures, it is
also essential that e-wallet users play their part in keeping their personal
information safe and out of reach by cybercriminals. As all of the content
creators remind netizens, whatever the circumstance, never share your MPIN and
OTP!
If
you encounter any phishing scams or suspicious activities targeting your GCash account,
report them immediately. You can do this by visiting the Official GCash Help
Center or messaging Gigi on the website, and simply typing, “I want to report a
scam.”
