GCash has issued a warning to users about a wave of sophisticated scams targeting account holders through fake government representatives and fraudulent apps.
The Ayala-led fintech company said scammers are increasingly impersonating officials from the national ID system (PhilSys) or the eGovPH platform, pressuring victims to reveal sensitive account information.
"Scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, including phone calls, emails, fake apps, and staged online video meetings, to pressure victims into revealing their account credentials, resulting in unauthorized access and financial loss," GCash said in a statement.
One reported scheme involves scammers contacting individuals to claim their National ID is ready for verification. Victims are instructed to join a Google Meet call, download a fake app, and share their screens. "By watching your screen, they will steal your OTPs, PINs, and passwords, then access your banking and e-wallet accounts," the company warned.
GCash also highlighted scams that exploit “too good to be true” offers, such as fake promotions or expiring rewards, creating urgency to trick users into giving away One-Time Passwords (OTPs).
To protect themselves, the company urged users to ignore unsolicited calls or messages about account verification and to never share credentials or screen access. Users are also advised to download apps only from official sources like the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Huawei AppGallery.
The warning coincides with heightened efforts by Philippine authorities to fight cybercrime. GCash confirmed it is coordinating with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to identify and block suspicious accounts.