Philippines Launches ScamCheck.ph Tool in ASEAN Fraud Program

The Philippines launched the national phase of the Scam Ready ASEAN Program on Oct. 12, introducing a verification portal and training tools designed to help users identify digital scams before sending money or sharing personal information.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP), Google.org and the ASEAN Foundation officially kicked off the Philippine program. The initiative combines ScamCheck.ph with interactive scam-prevention training and a broader target of reaching 3 million people across Southeast Asia.

ScamCheck.ph was launched by BMAP in collaboration with BetterGov. The portal allows users to review suspicious web links, unsolicited text messages, payment requests and prompts for personal information before taking action.

The program also includes the Scam Ready Game, an interactive learning tool focused on phishing, fraudulent investment schemes and social-engineering tactics. Phishing involves deceptive messages or websites designed to trick people into revealing information or sending funds.

The project is training 2,000 “Master Trainers” to conduct scam-prevention and cybersecurity workshops in communities, schools and businesses across the Philippines.

“At the BSP, we believe that as digital finance becomes more accessible, it must also become safer,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said. “We are proud to do our part in building a more vigilant, more resilient, and truly Scam Ready ASEAN.”

BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said consumer protection depends on cooperation among users, financial institutions and other sectors.

“Protecting consumers is a shared responsibility, and by working together, we can build stronger safeguards to protect Filipinos, their hard-earned savings, and the trust they place in our financial system,” Romulo-Puyat said.

Representatives from financial institutions, telecom carriers, technology platforms, law-enforcement agencies, consumer groups and regulators attended the launch at the BSP head office in Manila.

The coalition is intended to coordinate defenses against cyber-enabled financial crime as digital payments and online banking expand in the Philippines.