DOJ Launches ‘S.U.R.E.’ anti-scam campaign against cybercrime in PH
The Department of Justice (DOJ), through its Office of Cybercrime (OOC), officially launched a nationwide anti-scam awareness initiative today aimed at equipping Filipinos with practical skills to detect and prevent online fraud.
The campaign introduces the S.U.R.E. framework, encouraging every Filipino to Spot a scam, Understand how it works, Report suspicious incidents, and Empower others to protect themselves.
Justice Secretary Frederrick Vida emphasized that while the DOJ remains committed to pursuing cybercriminals, law enforcement must be paired with public vigilance and cross-sector collaboration.
"The fight against online scams is not just the government's battle," Secretary Vida said. "It is the fight of every bank, every telecommunications company, every school, every family, and every Filipino."
The launch comes in response to alarming new data from the 2026 State of Scams in the Philippines report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).
According to the report, 84 percent of Filipino adults encountered a scam attempt over the past year, marking a significant increase from 77 percent in 2025. Additionally, 15 percent of those surveyed suffered financial losses, often involving stolen personal data.
"Behind every one of these numbers is a Filipino who was deceived, a family that lost their savings, and a dream that may have been lost forever," Secretary Vida noted.
Because stolen funds can move across borders in seconds and perpetrators often operate anonymously, the DOJ recognizes that legal prosecution alone cannot solve the crisis.
Through the National Prosecution Service and the Office of Cybercrime, the Department continues to bolster its capabilities in:
• Cybercrime case build-up and prosecution
• Electronic evidence preservation
• International law enforcement cooperation
Complementing these legal efforts, the new OOC campaign directly targets everyday vulnerabilities by teaching the public how to identify warning signs across common schemes, including phishing, romance scams, fraudulent investments, and banking fraud.
"We want to turn the question 'S.U.R.E. ka na ba?' (Are you sure?) into a confident 'S.U.R.E. na' (I am sure)," Secretary Vida added. "The Department of Justice will continue to pursue cybercriminals and ensure that those who exploit technology to victimize others are held accountable under the law."
Vida cited a case wherein a retired worker lost his lifetime savings due to an investment scam, an OFW that sent money to a scammer that poised as a family member and a young professional dupe by a fake job.
“These are not merely financial losses. They represent broken trust, lost opportunities, and, in many cases, years of hard work taken away in a matter of minutes. This is why combating financial fraud must remain a national priority. Today, I wish to emphasize two important directions in the Department of Justice’s response to this challenge,” said Vida.
He said the government must move beyond prosecution and adopt an upstream approach to cybercrime prevention.
“We must move upstream—from responding to cybercrime after it happens to preventing it before it occurs. This means investing not only in investigation and prosecution but also in public awareness, cyber safety education, early intervention, and empowering our citizens to recognize and avoid online threats.”
He said it is not enough to arrest and penalize the scammer it is important to prevent them to have a new victim.
That is the preventive approach we seek to institutionalize in the Department of Justice,” said Vida.
Vida said the second thing is combating cyber-fraud requires a whole of government and whole of society approach.
“A single online scam may involve a telecommunications network, a social media platform, a financial institution, and a criminal operating from another country. No single government agency, no matter how capable, can address these threats alone. This is why we must strengthen cooperation across government and build meaningful partnerships with the private sector,” he said.
Vida commend their partners from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the National Telecommunications Commission for joining the important initiative as their participation demonstrates shared commitment to protecting Filipino consumers, strengthening financial security, and promoting a safer digital environment.