16k cybercrimes logged since 2024 due to Pinoys' increased awareness – CICC

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Wednesday said it received 16,000 cybercrime complaints since 2024, citing Filipinos’ increased awareness of cybercrime and available reporting mechanisms.

Of this figure, 6,000 cybercrime complaints were logged this 2025, said CICC acting executive director and undersecretary Aboy Paraiso.

“We can attribute this na medyo dumami kasi nga nagku-queuing na nga kami ngayon eh so we can attribute na nagkaroon ng, unang-una, siguro iyong awareness campaign. Nagbunga iyong awareness campaign natin about hotline 1326,” he said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.

(We can attribute this increase to the fact that we are conducting queuing, so we can attribute this to first, I guess the awareness campaign. Our awareness campaigns about hotline 1326 bore fruit.)

“Pangalawa ho, because of the 24-hour feedback mechanism, unti-unti ho nakukuha natin iyong tiwala ng ating mga kababayan na dati ayaw magreklamo, ayaw magsumbong dahil nahihiya kasi na-scam sila na ganoon. Ngayon ho, we ensure that within 24 hours kapag tumawag kayo sa amin, may feedback kayo ano na iyong status ng kaso ninyo,” Paraiso added.

(Second, because of the 24-hour feedback mechanism, we are earning the trust of the public who used to shy away from reporting or complaining, because they felt ashamed that they fell victim to scams. Now, we ensure that if you call us, you will have feedback about the status of your case within 24 hours.)

Investment scams are the most common cybercrime that the CICC responded to throughout the year, as well as fake calls or impersonation scams.

The CICC noted a resurgence of commercial scams during the holidays, while love scams tend to be seasonal in nature.

Paraiso said they adopted a whole-of-government approach in responding to cybercrime complaints in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Kailangan it’s a whole-of-government approach pagdating ho sa aming mga iba’t ibang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan… Hopefully, magtuluy-tuloy iyong trend at pagdating ng 2026 ma-expand pa natin kung papalarin tayo at ma-overcome natin iyong budgetary constraints natin,” he said.

(It requires a whole-of-government approach when it comes to different government agencies… Hopefully, this trend of increasing reports will continue and we will be able to expand our services by 2026 if we are lucky and we overcome these budgetary constraints.)

He added that the CICC has partnered with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to combat disinformation through fact checks and take downs of false information on social media platforms.

The CICC is also working with celebrity influencers like Chinkee Tan, Bugboy Cheng, and Sachzna Laparan in conducting educational campaigns against illegal online activities.

Paraiso admitted that the biggest challenge they faced this year was a lack of awareness and trust.

“So talagang inuna natin iyong pagpapalaganap ng awareness about sa CICC at mayroong matatakbuhan ang ating mga kababayan pagdating sa kapag nabiktima sila ng scam. Sumunod diyan iyong lack of trust, so iyon din binuild din natin iyong trust na iyan,” he shared.

(We are prioritizing the increase of awareness about the CICC and that Filipinos have someone to turn to if they end up victims of a scam. Next is a lack of trust so we are also building that trust.)

The CICC also faced manpower issues, budget constraints, and lack of subpoena and warrant powers.

For 2026, the government agency is eyeing to upgrade its 1326 hotline or their complaints center to a physical center, beefing up their threat monitoring center, and increasing their investigation capabilities.

“The Philippines should have the cyber capabilities to monitor online threats and harms, whether it’s on the Internet, whether it’s on social media platforms, so we have the capability to monitor… May capability ka rin to stop and prevent the spread of these online harms and may capability ka rin to investigate and prosecute,” Paraiso said.

(The Philippines should have the cyber capabilities to monitor online threats and harms, whether it’s on the Internet, whether it’s on social media platforms, so we have the capability to monitor… You also have the capability to stop and prevent the spread of these online harms and you also have the capability to investigate and prosecute.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News