How to File a Complaint Against Online Gaming Scams in the Philippines

(Comprehensive Legal Guide, updated June 2025)

Important note: This guide is for general information only and does not create an attorney–client relationship. If substantial sums or sensitive data are involved, consult a Philippine lawyer experienced in cyber-fraud or consumer-protection litigation.

1. What Counts as an “Online Gaming Scam”?

Modus	Typical Red Flags	Primary Laws Implicated
Account-takeover & item theft	Phishing links, “GM” asking for login details	Rev. Penal Code (Estafa), R.A. 10175
Play-to-earn (P2E) investment fraud	Unrealistic ROI, unlicensed “tokens”	Securities Reg. Code, SEC Advisories, R.A. 10175
Fake top-ups / load selling	Heavily discounted diamonds/skins	Estafa, R.A. 8792 (E-Commerce)
Rigged betting or casino-style games	No PAGCOR license, no RTP audit	P.D. 1869, PAGCOR rules, R.A. 10175
Data-harvesting malware in mods	Sudden requests for device permissions	Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173), R.A. 10175

2. Core Legal Framework

Statute	Key Provisions for Complainant
R.A. 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act (2012)	§4(b)(2) Computer-related Fraud & §6 Penalties; empowers NBI-CCD & PNP-ACG
Revised Penal Code – Art. 315 (Estafa)	Deceitful taking of property or money; venue flexibly follows victim’s domicile if acts done online
R.A. 8792 – E-Commerce Act	Electronic evidence admissibility (§11); ISP preservation duty (§13)
R.A. 7394 – Consumer Act	Defective or misleading digital goods; DTI mediation
Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173)	Liability for unauthorized processing/leak of gamer data
Securities Regulation Code & SEC Notices	If “game” sells unregistered investment contracts
P.D. 1869 & PAGCOR e-Games Regs	Licensing of online casinos & e-bingo; PAGCOR accepts player complaints

3. Which Agency to Approach?

Scenario	Best First Stop	Why
Pure monetary loss (items, in-game currency)	PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or NBI Cybercrime Division (CCD)	They handle criminal investigation & can subpoena platforms
Unfair merchant practice (legit publisher, abusive refund)	DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB)	Consumer mediation; can order refund
Personal-data breach	National Privacy Commission (NPC)	Issues compliance orders & fines
Gambling or P2E without license	PAGCOR (if gambling) or SEC Enforcement & Investor Protection Dept. (EIPD)	Cease-and-desist, freeze assets
Cross-border suspect	NBI-CCD (formal Mutual Legal Assistance)	Coordinates with INTERPOL/ASEANAPOL

4. Evidence Checklist (Gather before filing)

Screenshots of chats, offers, ads, and transaction confirmations (full URL + timestamp).
Video capture of in-game actions where fraud occurred (OBS/mobile screen recorder).
E-mail/SMS headers (for tracing IP or sender IDs).
Payment proofs: bank transfer slips, GCash reference numbers, credit-card statements.
Device forensics (optional): malicious APK, phishing e-mail file.
Correspondence with platform—support tickets, refusal to refund, etc.

Under §13 of R.A. 8792 you may request the ISP to preserve traffic data for up to 6 months, renewable once, to aid investigation.

5. Step-by-Step Complaint Process

Draft an Affidavit-Complaint
- State personal details, narration of facts in chronological order, laws violated, and prayer for relief.
- Attach all evidence as Annexes; label clearly (Annex “A-1”, etc.).
Notarize the affidavit (if filing criminal case) or sign in front of investigating officer (for walk-in report).
File with Proper Venue
- Criminal: PNP-ACG HQ (Camp Crame) or any Regional Cybercrime Unit or NBI-CCD (Taft Ave., Manila). No filing fee.
- Administrative/Consumer: DTI – submit Consumer Complaint Form (CCF) + affidavit; pay ₱210 filing fee (as of 2025).
- PAGCOR: e-mail to PlayerSupport@pagcor.ph or file via Gaming Licensing and Development Dept. (GLDD) portal.
Take Sworn Statement & Provide Devices (if asked). Investigators may mirror phones/PCs; ensure backups.
Issue Subpoena & Digital Forensics – agency serves §14 R.A. 10175 subpoenas to telcos/payment gateways to identify culprits.
Pre-Charge Investigation (NPS Rules): submit Counter-Affidavit if respondent identified; resolution in 90 days.
Court Filing & Arraignment – Prosecutor files Information with RTC Special Cybercrime Court; bail typically recommended.
Civil & Restitution
- File separate civil action for damages (Art. 33 Civil Code) or reserve civil action in criminal complaint.
- Small-Claims route (Rule 5 SCC) if amount ≤ ₱400 000; no lawyer required.
Enforcement & Asset Recovery
- Apply for freeze order with AMLC (for e-wallets) or writ of attachment in civil case.
- Coordinate with BSP if payments went through banks/PSPs.

6. Sample Affidavit-Complaint Skeleton

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
CITY OF _________              )  S.S.

              AFFIDAVIT-COMPLAINT

     I, Juan Dela Cruz, Filipino, of legal age, ...
1. On 10 May 2025, while using the mobile game “XYZ Quest” ...
2. The suspect “@LegendTopupPH” offered 60%-off diamonds...
3. I paid ₱5 000 via GCash Ref. No. 123456789 on 11 May 2025...
4. After payment, the suspect blocked me and no diamonds were delivered...
5. These acts constitute **Computer-Related Fraud** under §4(b)(2) of R.A. 10175 and Estafa under Art. 315(2)(a).

     WHEREFORE, I respectfully pray that criminal charges be filed...

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this 24 June 2025.

(Add Verification & Notary Acknowledgment.)

7. Key Agency Contact Points (as of June 2025)

Agency	Hotline	E-mail / Portal
PNP-ACG	(02) 8725-4049	acg@pnp.gov.ph
NBI-CCD	8523-8231 loc 3454	ccd@nbi.gov.ph
DTI-FTEB	1-D-T-I (1-384)	ecomplaints@dti.gov.ph
National Privacy Commission	(02) 8234-2228	complaints@privacy.gov.ph
PAGCOR GLDD – Player Support	(02) 8527-0279	playersupport@pagcor.ph
SEC EIPD	(02) 5317-9078	epd@sec.gov.ph

8. Practical Tips to Strengthen Your Case

Preserve chain of custody: Save digital evidence on read-only media (USB-R or cloud with audit logs).
Avoid barangay conciliation: Cybercrimes are not covered by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law (Lupong Tagapamayapa) because penalties exceed one year.
Insist on a CIDG or cyber-trained prosecutor: DOJ has specialized cyber-crime prosecutors; request assignment.
Check SEC advisories: Before investing in P2E tokens, search your game’s name on www.sec.gov.ph; if already flagged, complaints are faster.
Coordinate with payment platforms early; some e-wallets can still reverse funds within 24–48 h.

9. Possible Remedies & Outcomes

Remedy	Where Obtained	Typical Time-frame
Refund / Replacement	DTI Mediation	15–30 days
Subpoena & Takedown	PNP-ACG/NBI-CCD	1–3 months
Criminal Restitution	RTC/Special Cybercrime Court	1-2 years
Civil Damages (moral, exemplary)	RTC / Small Claims	6 months–3 years
Asset Freeze	AMLC (ex parte)	24 h from filing

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to know the scammer’s real identity before filing? A: No. Provide any screen-name, wallet address, or IP you have; investigators can subpoena subscriber data.

Q: Can I file from overseas? A: Yes. Execute your affidavit at the Philippine embassy/consulate for authentication, then e-mail a scanned copy to NBI-CCD. Under §21 R.A. 10175, Philippine courts have jurisdiction if the victim is a Filipino or the system used is in the Philippines.

Q: What if the game is hosted on Facebook or Google Play? A: Report through their in-platform channels simultaneously; attach the platform ticket numbers to show you attempted mitigation. Platforms sometimes suspend the offender faster than courts act.

11. Conclusion

Filing a complaint against an online gaming scam in the Philippines follows established cybercrime and consumer-protection procedures. Success hinges on complete evidence, correct venue, and persistence through the investigation-to-prosecution cycle. While the process can be time-consuming, it both increases recovery chances and helps authorities dismantle fraud networks targeting Filipino gamers.

Stay vigilant, document every interaction, and seek professional legal help for high-value or complex cross-border cases.