Before you click that suspicious link, answer an unsolicited message, or transfer funds to an unverified recipient, you now have a direct line to check if you are being targeted by cybercriminals.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP), Google.org, and the ASEAN Foundation officially kicked off the Philippine leg of the Scam Ready ASEAN Program on October 12, 2026, introducing practical anti-fraud tools directly to Filipino digital banking users.
How Scamcheck.ph Protect Users
At the center of the Philippine launch is scamcheck.ph, a dedicated verification portal launched by BMAP in collaboration with BetterGov under the nationwide campaign “Ang Mahal ma-Scam, i-scamcheck.ph Mo Muna.” The platform is designed to help consumers double-check online interactions—such as suspicious web links, unexpected SMS messages, payment requests, and unsolicited prompts for personal data, before taking action or sending money.
In tandem with the verification portal, the regional initiative introduces the Scam Ready Game, an interactive learning experience designed to help users recognize common phishing tactics, fraudulent investment schemes, and social engineering traps in a risk-free environment.
Cascading Scam Awareness to 3 Million People
The broader Scam Ready ASEAN Program aims to reach 3 million people across Southeast Asia. To achieve scale across local communities, educational institutions, and corporate organizations, the project is training 2,000 Master Trainers who will cascade practical cyber hygiene and scam prevention workshops nationwide.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. highlighted the necessity of embedding security alongside digital adoption:
“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 Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat emphasized that fighting digital fraud requires active consumer participation backed by unified industry defenses:
“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.”
Multi-Sectoral Coalition Against Cyber Threats
The event brought together representatives from financial institutions, telecom carriers, technology platforms, law enforcement, consumer advocacy groups, and regulatory bodies at the BSP Head Office in Manila.
As digital payments and online banking continue to expand across the Philippines, the coalition aims to establish a unified defense network against rapidly evolving cyber-enabled financial crimes.
Disclosue: AI is used to assist in developing this story.
This article is published on BitPinas: BSP and BMAP Launch Scam Ready ASEAN Initiative and ScamCheck.ph Verification Tool in the Philippines
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