IATF warns public vs online fraud during quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — As the government strictly enforces the stay-at-home policy, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases warned the people yesterday against phishing activities or internet fraud by unscrupulous individuals who prey on those who use online banking services to avoid leaving their homes for errands during the lockdown period in Luzon.

IATF spokesman Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported a 100 percent increase in phishing cases.

Nograles issued the warning, asking everyone “to be cautious when it comes to your bank details,” citing the number of cases of online fraud reported to the NBI and the BSP.

“The modus operandi of phishing is when someone would pretend to be from your bank, and would ask details of your bank account like account number or password. Don’t readily provide those details, your bank won’t ask for those details,” Nograles said yesterday.

Nograles also cautioned the public against those who solicit donations via social media.

“We are also warning against those who ask donations online. There are criminals who pose as respected institutions. We encourage everyone to double-check and verify these requests for donations,” he added.

It is better to give assistance or donations to those you know personally or those endorsed by friends, Nograles added.

Nograles noted that the rise in online criminal activities was among the downside of the lockdown that prompted many people to avail of online services.

“Aside from holding meetings online using different applications, the (enhanced community quarantine) has compelled those of us fortunate to have internet connections to go online to perform tasks that would ordinarily require us to leave our homes,” he said.

“Now, people buy groceries and bread online and have these delivered. Others do online banking and pay bills online,” Nograles said.

While these online services help many of us cope with the limitations brought about by the quarantine, the Palace official noted that there were also groups or individuals who hacked accounts and took advantage of the situation.