Online scammers in Phl more deceptive — firm

As the Philippine government has yet to form a national task force to prevent cybercrimes that have been victimizing countries, Gogolook Philippines has launched another feature on its platform to prevent citizens from becoming prey to cybercriminals.

Mel Migriño, Country Head and General Manager of Gogolook Philippines, stressed that as online scams continue to spread through messaging apps and social media, parents can be equipped to defend their families—especially their children—via Whoscall Content Checker.

“Scams today are more deceptive than ever. They can show up as job offers, fake delivery messages, or even screenshots shared in group chats. With WhoscallContent Checker, we’re giving parents a fast and reliable way to check if a message is real or potentially harmful,” Migriño said.

Whoscall Content Checker is a feature within the Check core function of the Whoscall app—a global anti-scam application—designed to help users detect suspicious messages and misinformation.

It allows users to paste suspicious text or Uniform Resource Locators and upload suspicious screenshots, then instantly scans them for red flags.

Powered by advanced AI and a trusted scam database, the tool can identify phishing attempts, fake promos, and misleading news links that often circulate in family or community chats.

“For many parents, digital protection is now part of everyday parenting. It’s no longer just about locking doors or setting house rules. It’s also about staying vigilant online and guiding the family through content that may not be what it seems,” Migriño said.

“Whoscall Content Checker gives Filipino dads the confidence to step in, ask the right questions, and make smarter choices for their families. As scams continue to evolve, tools like this provide an extra layer of protection that’s both timely and essential,” Migriño added.

The Cybercrime Coordinating Council in April said it is forming a national task force against online and text scammers, headed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology with law enforcement agencies, as the scammers switch to new tactics to deceive Filipinos.

In 2023, the shopping scam rate in the country reached 35.9 percent, which is the highest among 11 Asian countries based on the 2023 Asia Scam Report.