Following recent cyclones and monsoon rains, an e-wallet giant is sounding the alarm over a new scam that exploits Filipinos’ hopes for financial relief.
Mobile wallet service GCash issued an urgent warning about a spoofing scheme where scammers send fake text messages claiming recipients have received “Calamity Assistance.” These fraudulent SMS messages contain embedded links or spoofed QR codes that lead to phishing sites designed to steal sensitive user information.
“This scam isn’t just opportunistic—it’s engineered for emotional impact,” Miguel Geronilla, GCash Chief Information Security Officer, said.
“By invoking the term ‘Calamity Assistance,’ criminals seek to undermine user caution and exploit their vulnerability during disaster recovery,” he added.
The tactic is part of a broader spoofing scam trend in which fraudsters impersonate institutions like banks and e-wallets using illegal devices to send deceptive messages. GCash emphasized it never sends texts or messages asking for personal details, MPINs, or one-time passwords (OTPs) through links.
To protect users, the mobile wallet advised the public to:
- Never click on suspicious links or scan unknown QR codes
- Avoid sharing MPINs and OTPs with anyone
- Report suspicious messages immediately
- Users can report scams via the GCash Help Center, by messaging Gigi on the website and typing “I want to report a scam,” or by calling hotline 2882.
- For official updates and security tips, users are encouraged to follow @gcashofficial or visit gcash.com/security.
GCash said law enforcement and cybersecurity partners, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center—are actively investigating these incidents, alongside GCash’s internal security team.
Last week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also cautioned the public against scammers using its official hotline to send malicious links claiming to offer government flood relief aid.
The agency said the spoofed SMS claims the recipient had received “ayuda” or financial aid from the government following recent flooding in Metro Manila and other areas.
READ: NDRRMC warns public of ‘flood relief’ text scam using official number
These floods were caused by incessant rain in late July, triggered by southwest monsoon or habagat and three cyclones “Crising” (Wipha), “Dante,” (Francisco) and “Emong” (Co-May.)
Several local government units have declared a state of calamity after the onslaught of these weather systems.
