PNP, GCash warn vs. rising scam modus

GCash has urged Filipinos to stay vigilant against emerging scams involving screen sharing and shoulder surfing, which fraudsters now use to gain unauthorized access to online banking and e-wallet accounts.

In a public advisory, authorities warned that scammers have developed new tactics to deceive users into turning on the “screen sharing” feature in social media messaging apps while making financial transactions. By doing so, the scammers can watch in real time as victims input sensitive details like Mobile PINs (MPINs) and One-Time Passwords (OTPs) — critical credentials needed to access and drain digital wallets or bank accounts.

Another method gaining traction is “shoulder surfing,” where scammers covertly glance at the screens of mobile phones used by sellers or small business owners during transactions. This typically occurs in public places or crowded areas, enabling the fraudsters to steal personal information or banking credentials.

To avoid falling victim to these schemes, users are strongly advised to:

• Never share MPINs or OTPs with anyone

• Avoid clicking suspicious links

• Keep their mobile screens private, especially during financial transactions

Authorities also emphasized the importance of reporting suspicious activity. Incidents can be reported to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) via phone at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or by emailing acg@pnp.gov.ph.

GCash users can file reports through the official GCash Help Center in-app or at help.gcash.com, or call the official GCash hotline at 2882.