BSP backs ASEAN campaign against online scams

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has backed a regional initiative aimed at equipping three million people across Southeast Asia with skills to recognize, avoid and respond to online scams.

The Scam Ready ASEAN Program, led by the ASEAN Foundation, launched its Philippine leg at the BSP Head Office in Manila on 12 October, bringing together representatives from government, financial institutions, technology and telecommunications companies, law enforcement agencies and consumer groups.

The initiative seeks to develop 2,000 master trainers who will help spread scam awareness and prevention lessons in their communities and organizations.

A key component is the Scam Ready game, an interactive learning tool designed to help users identify fraudulent schemes and make safer decisions online.

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

BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stressed the need for cooperation among stakeholders to protect consumers from financial fraud.

“Fighting scams requires more than awareness. It requires action and collaboration. 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.

The event was led by the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP), together with the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org, in collaboration with the BSP.

BMAP also launched the industry-wide campaign “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna,” which urges the public to verify information before clicking links, responding to messages, sending money or sharing personal information online.