The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) announced that in the first half of 2025, a total of 5,099 suspects involved in cybercrime were arrested nationwide, covering cases such as online fraud, identity theft, electronic wallet skimming, and AI investment scams, reflecting the ongoing spread of cybercrime.
Brigadier General Yang Bernard, the director of PNP-ACG, pointed out that most of the arrested individuals are unemployed males aged between 20 and 30, many of whom had previously worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). As the POGO industry undergoes rectification and expulsion, some former customer service, technical, and security personnel have turned to the telecommunications fraud industry. Leveraging their previous system and technical experience, they quickly established fraud networks.
The police investigation also found that criminals abuse the SIM card real-name system, with one person owning hundreds of cards, operating social media accounts, sending phishing texts, and even impersonating others to commit fraud. PNP-ACG is pushing for legislation to limit the number of SIM cards an individual can register to no more than ten to curb related abuses.
Social platforms have also become hotbeds for scams. Telegram, Facebook, and TikTok have been named as channels with high incidences of fraud. The police call on these platforms to establish local offices in the Philippines to strengthen regulatory cooperation and promptly remove illegal content.
Additionally, AI forgery technology is widely used by fraud groups. The police have received multiple reports of AI voice scams impersonating government officials, including a deepfake video of President Marcos "recommending an investment platform" currently spreading on social media. The police have requested its removal and are tracing its origin.
PNP reminds the public not to click on unknown links or disclose personal information casually, and to report any suspicious situations immediately. Brigadier General Yang emphasized that law enforcement alone cannot fully prevent fraud; "public vigilance" is the most crucial line of defense.
