How to Report a Scam in the Philippines

I. Introduction and Disclaimer

Scams in the Philippines range from simple swindling to sophisticated cybercrime and investment schemes. Reporting them properly is not only about getting your money back; it is also about triggering the criminal justice system, regulatory enforcement, and protective measures for other potential victims.

This article explains, in Philippine context, how to report a scam, which authorities to approach, what laws may apply, and what to expect from the process. It is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice from a Philippine lawyer who can assess your specific situation.

II. Legal Framework: What Makes a “Scam” a Crime?

“Scam” is not a technical legal term. In Philippine law, scams are usually punished under the Revised Penal Code and special laws. Common bases include:

  1. Revised Penal Code (RPC)

    • Estafa (Swindling) – Article 315 Typically covers situations where the offender defrauds another by abuse of confidence or deceit, causing damage or prejudice. Examples:

      • Collecting money for a product or service and never delivering it.
      • Pretending to have a business or job offer that does not exist.
      • Misrepresenting investments or returns.

    • Other relevant RPC offenses

      • Falsification of documents
      • Theft, robbery
      • Usury-related or fraud-related offenses where applicable

  2. Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175) RA 10175 punishes certain crimes when committed through ICT (computers, phones, the Internet). It:

    • Treats online estafa, fraud, hacking, phishing, and identity theft as cybercrimes when done through computers or the internet.
    • Allows law enforcement to use special tools and procedures (e.g., preservation of computer data, real-time collection of traffic data) through proper legal channels.

  3. Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 (RA 8484)

    • Covers fraud involving credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, SIM cards used as access devices, and similar instruments.
    • Often applies to card skimming, card-not-present fraud, and fraudulent use of access devices.

  4. Securities Regulation Code (RA 8799) and related SEC rules

    • Used against investment scams, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid schemes where people are induced to “invest” in unregistered securities, or where returns are paid from new investors’ money.
    • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) can issue cease-and-desist orders, revoke registrations, and file cases.

  5. Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394)

    • Applies to deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales practices, including false advertising and misrepresentation in the sale of goods and services.
    • Implemented mainly by agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for trade and consumer complaints.

  6. Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (RA 11765)

    • Strengthens consumer protection across banks, e-money issuers, lending companies, insurance, and investment products.
    • Gives regulators (BSP, SEC, Insurance Commission) explicit powers to handle complaints, investigate misconduct, and sanction erring financial service providers.

  7. Data Privacy Act (RA 10173)

    • May be relevant where a scam involves misuse or unauthorized acquisition of personal information (e.g., identity theft, data breaches used to perpetrate fraud).
    • The National Privacy Commission (NPC) can investigate privacy violations and impose sanctions.

Depending on your situation, multiple laws can apply at once (e.g., estafa + cybercrime + data privacy violations).

III. Common Types of Scams (and Typical Authorities Involved)

While not exhaustive, these examples can guide you on where to report:

  • Online selling scams – Paid but item never delivered, fake courier updates, “pre-order” that never arrives.

    • Typically: PNP, NBI, DTI (for consumer complaints), platform complaint mechanisms.

  • Phishing and account takeovers – Fake emails, SMS, or sites, leading to stolen bank, e-wallet, or social media credentials.

    • Typically: PNP or NBI cybercrime units, bank/e-wallet provider, possibly NPC for data issues.

  • Investment scams and “double your money” schemes – Unregistered investments promising high, guaranteed returns.

    • Typically: SEC, PNP/NBI for criminal aspects, possibly BSP if financial entities are involved.

  • Loan app harassment / abusive collection – Loan apps that shame borrowers, contact all persons in phone directory, or misrepresent legal consequences.

    • Typically: SEC (for lending companies), NPC (for misuse of personal data), law enforcement for threats or extortion.

  • Text/Call scams & SIM-related scams – “Na-hulog ang GCash ko,” lottery scams, fake emergencies, OTP requests.

    • Typically: PNP/NBI, telco provider, sometimes bank/e-wallet.

  • Credit card / ATM fraud – Unauthorized transactions or cloned cards.

    • Typically: card-issuing bank, PNP/NBI, RA 8484.

  • Government-related scams – Fraud involving or impersonating government officials, fake permits, “fixers.”

    • Typically: PNP/NBI, agency concerned, and possibly the Office of the Ombudsman or Civil Service Commission if a public official is involved.

IV. Immediate Steps After Discovering a Scam

Before formal reporting, take these practical steps as soon as you suspect you’ve been scammed:

  1. Ensure Your Safety and Stop Further Losses

    • Cease all communications with the scammer if engaging further is risky.
    • Do not give any more money, personal data, or one-time passwords (OTPs).

  2. Secure Your Accounts

    • Change passwords to your email, banking, e-wallet, and social media accounts.
    • Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
    • Report compromised accounts to your bank, e-wallet provider, or platform immediately.

  3. Notify Your Bank or Financial Service Provider

    • Request to freeze or restrict suspicious accounts or cards if possible.
    • File a dispute or fraud report for unauthorized transactions.
    • Ask for a written incident report or reference number—this can be evidence later.

  4. Preserve All Evidence Collect and safely store:

    • Screenshots of chats, emails, social media posts, and websites.
    • Photos of physical documents (IDs, receipts, deposit slips, remittance forms).
    • Bank transaction histories (passbook, statements, online history).
    • Any advertising material, flyers, “contracts,” or presentations used to lure victims.
    • Names, nicknames, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames, group chat names, and links used by the scammer.

    Do not alter or “edit” the evidence. Keep original copies; make backups.

  5. List Down the Facts Chronologically

    • When and how you first learned of the offer.
    • What promises were made and by whom.
    • How much you paid, to whom, and when.
    • Any witnesses or other victims who can help corroborate.

Having your story organized will be crucial for your complaint affidavit.

V. Where and How to Report a Scam

Most scams can be reported to more than one authority: law enforcement, regulators, and service providers. Multiple reports are allowed and sometimes advisable.

A. Local Police (PNP) – Police Station / Police Assistance Desk

  1. What they can do

    • Take a police blotter entry: a formal record that the incident was reported.
    • Conduct initial investigation and endorse the case to specialized units or the prosecutor’s office.
    • For online or complex scams, they may refer the case to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or regional cybercrime units.

  2. What to bring

    • Any government-issued ID.
    • All documents and evidence (hard copies or printed screenshots).
    • A written or prepared narrative (if you have one).
    • Names of possible witnesses or other victims.

  3. Police Blotter vs. Complaint

    • A police blotter is not yet a formal criminal complaint but serves as a record and sometimes a supporting document.
    • The police may help you prepare a complaint-affidavit, or advise you to file directly with the prosecutor’s office.

B. PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) and Regional Cybercrime Units

For scams committed through the internet, social media, online banking, or other ICT channels:

  1. Scope

    • Phishing, hacking, identity theft.
    • Online investment scams, romance scams, fake online shops.
    • Unauthorized access to accounts, fraudulent online payments.

  2. What to prepare

    • Digital evidence: screenshots, emails, chat exports, URLs.
    • Account names and IDs; IP logs if available from platforms.
    • Police blotter (if already filed).

These units can coordinate with ISPs, platforms, and other law enforcement agencies.

C. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

The NBI also investigates scams, especially those involving:

  • Organized or syndicated operations.
  • Cybercrime and complex fraud.
  • High-value or widespread investment schemes.

When filing with the NBI:

  1. Prepare:

    • Valid ID.
    • Complaint-affidavit (if already drafted) or a written account.
    • All supporting evidence and witnesses.

  2. Process:

    • You may be interviewed by an NBI agent.
    • The NBI can conduct investigation, subpoenas, and forensic analysis subject to legal procedures.
    • They can file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office on your behalf.

D. Prosecutor’s Office (Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor)

Formal criminal cases typically pass through the prosecutor’s office via preliminary investigation.

  1. Complaint-Affidavit

    • A sworn statement describing the scam, identifying respondents (if known), and stating the laws allegedly violated.
    • Attach evidence and sworn statements of witnesses (witness affidavits).

  2. Filing Steps (General Overview)

    • Prepare a complaint-affidavit and annexes. A lawyer can help, but complainants may draft their own.
    • Have the complaint subscribed and sworn to before the prosecutor or an authorized official.
    • Pay any applicable filing fees (if any; often minimal for criminal complaints).
    • The prosecutor issues a subpoena to the respondent(s), who may file counter-affidavits.
    • After evaluating the submissions, the prosecutor issues a Resolution recommending whether to file an Information in court or dismiss the complaint.
    • If the case proceeds, the Information is filed in the appropriate trial court (usually Municipal Trial Court or Regional Trial Court depending on the penalty).

  3. Inquest vs. Regular Filing

    • Inquest: If the offender is caught in the act or arrested without warrant, an inquest prosecutor determines whether to file charges immediately.
    • Regular filing: For cases where the suspect is not in custody, you file a regular complaint; the case undergoes preliminary investigation.

E. Barangay (Lupon Tagapamayapa)

The Katarungang Pambarangay system (barangay justice) covers certain disputes between persons residing in the same city/municipality and barangay (or adjacent barangays).

  • Some scam-related matters (like simple monetary disputes between neighbors or acquaintances) may be referred first to the barangay for mediation, especially if the amount and nature of the dispute are minor or civil.
  • However, serious criminal offenses, particularly those punishable by imprisonment of more than one year or involving public order and security, may be outside barangay jurisdiction and may be filed directly with the police or prosecutor.

Local practice can vary, so barangay officials typically advise whether they can handle a specific complaint.

F. Regulatory and Specialized Agencies

Depending on the type of scam, additional reports to regulators are important:

  1. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) For investment scams, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, unregistered securities, and fraudulent solicitations of investments:

    • File a complaint with the SEC’s enforcement/investor protection divisions.
    • Attach proof of solicitation (presentations, chat messages, “contracts”).
    • If the “investment company” is not registered or is violating conditions, SEC may issue advisories, cease-and-desist orders, or initiate criminal proceedings.

  2. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) For issues involving banks, e-money issuers, and other BSP-supervised financial institutions:

    • Report unauthorized transactions, unfair bank practices, or failure to properly assist scam victims.
    • The BSP has consumer assistance channels where you can lodge complaints against supervised institutions.

  3. Insurance Commission (IC) For scams involving insurance products or entities pretending to sell insurance:

    • Verify if the insurance entity is authorized.
    • File a complaint if misrepresentation or fraud occurred.

  4. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) For consumer sales-related scams, particularly product or service misrepresentation, deceptive online or offline retail practices:

    • File complaints under the Consumer Act.
    • DTI can mediate and, in some cases, sanction business establishments and online sellers.

  5. National Privacy Commission (NPC) For misuse of personal data, especially by abusive loan apps, identity theft, or unauthorized sharing of personal information (e.g., harassment by contacting your entire contact list):

    • File a privacy complaint, particularly where your data was processed beyond what was allowed or without consent.

  6. Office of the Ombudsman / Civil Service Commission (CSC) For scams involving public officials or employees:

    • If a government employee uses his/her position to defraud you or acts as a “fixer,” administrative and criminal cases may be filed.
    • You may initiate criminal complaints via the Ombudsman alongside the usual law enforcement channels.

G. Platforms and Service Providers

  1. E-Commerce Platforms

    • Use the platform’s complaint or dispute resolution mechanisms to request refunds, reverse transactions, or have sellers sanctioned or banned.

  2. Social Media Platforms

    • Report fake profiles, fraudulent pages, and scam ads.
    • Provide links and screenshots; platforms can remove content or disable accounts.

  3. Telecommunications Providers

    • Report scam numbers and SMS; request blocking where possible.
    • For SIM-related fraud, coordinate about SIM registration and security measures.

While these platforms cannot prosecute, they can help prevent further victimization and preserve data when requested by law enforcement.

VI. How to Prepare a Strong Complaint

Regardless of where you file (police, NBI, prosecutor, SEC, etc.), the structure of your complaint is similar.

  1. Identify the Parties

    • Your full name, address, contact details.
    • Name(s) or alias(es) of the scammer(s), if known.
    • Company name, business name, page name, or group name used.

  2. Statement of Facts

    • Tell your story chronologically and clearly.
    • Include dates, times, places, online platforms used, and exact words/representations made (if possible).
    • Specify how much money or property you gave, and what you expected in return.

  3. Legal Basis (If Possible)

    • If you have legal assistance, your lawyer may cite relevant laws (e.g., estafa under the RPC, RA 10175, RA 8484, RA 8799, RA 7394, RA 11765).
    • Even without legal citations, a well-documented narrative can still be enough for authorities to identify the applicable laws.

  4. Reliefs/Actions Requested

    • For criminal complaints: ask that respondents be charged and prosecuted.
    • For regulators: ask that licenses be revoked, entities be sanctioned, or operations be stopped, and that your losses be addressed in accordance with their rules.
    • For banks/platforms: request chargebacks, reversals, or account restrictions.

  5. Attachments

    • Label your evidence as annexes (Annex “A”, “B”, etc.) and refer to them in your narrative.
    • Ensure copies are legible and organized.

  6. Sworn Statement

    • Sign your complaint in front of the appropriate officer (prosecutor, notary, or authorized official) so it becomes a sworn statement.

VII. Criminal, Civil, and Administrative Remedies: How They Relate

  1. Criminal Liability

    • Filing with police/NBI and prosecutor seeks to punish the offender with imprisonment, fines, or both.
    • The court may also order restitution or payment of damages as part of the criminal case.

  2. Civil Liability

    • You may file a separate civil case for recovery of money or damages or allow the civil action to be impliedly instituted with the criminal case.
    • For smaller amounts, you may qualify for small claims proceedings (a simplified, faster civil process with no need for lawyers, up to a monetary limit set by the Supreme Court—check the current threshold, as it can change).
    • Civil cases focus on compensation, not punishment.

  3. Administrative / Regulatory Actions

    • Agencies like the SEC, BSP, DTI, IC, NPC, and Ombudsman can impose administrative penalties: suspension, license revocation, fines, blacklisting, and public advisories.
    • These do not directly send scammers to jail but can stop operations and deter future violations.

All three tracks can sometimes proceed in parallel, depending on the facts.

VIII. Jurisdiction, Venue, and Time Limits

  1. Jurisdiction

    • Determined by the nature of the offense and the penalty prescribed by law.

    • Generally:

      • Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Courts for lower penalties.
      • Regional Trial Courts for higher penalties and more serious offenses.

    • In practice, you focus on filing with the prosecutor; the prosecutor determines where to file the Information.

  2. Venue

    • Criminal complaints are usually filed where the offense was committed or any of its essential elements took place (e.g., place of payment, place of misrepresentation, place where the damage was felt).

  3. Prescription / Statute of Limitations

    • Crimes must be prosecuted within certain time limits from the date of commission or discovery, depending on the offense and penalty.
    • While many scams will still be actionable for years, some minor offenses prescribe quickly, so earlier reporting is better.

IX. Special Situations

  1. If the Scammer Is Abroad or Unknown

    • Many online scams involve unidentified or overseas perpetrators.
    • Law enforcement may still investigate and coordinate internationally, but practical enforcement can be difficult.
    • Still, reporting is important for trend analysis, public advisories, and possible disruption of local accomplices (e.g., money mules, local agents).

  2. If You Are Being Threatened or Harassed

    • Some scammers retaliate with threats of violence, doxxing, or shaming.
    • Threats can be separate criminal offenses (e.g., grave threats, grave coercion, cyber harassment).
    • Report immediately to law enforcement and consider protective measures. You may inquire about available protective orders or, for serious organized crime, about witness protection programs.

  3. If You Also Violated a Law Unknowingly (e.g., joining a pyramid scheme)

    • In some schemes, early participants benefit and might unknowingly recruit others.
    • Consult a lawyer, as cooperating with authorities and reporting schemes early may mitigate your liabilities or help you regularize your situation.

X. Practical Tips to Strengthen Your Case (and Protect Yourself)

  • Report early. Delays can make evidence harder to obtain and may affect witnesses’ memory.
  • Coordinate thoroughly. File with law enforcement and the relevant regulator and service providers, not just one.
  • Stay factual. Avoid exaggeration in your statements; credibility is crucial.
  • Beware of “recovery scams.” After being scammed, you may be targeted again by people claiming they can “retrieve” your money for a fee or “fast-track” your case. Treat them with suspicion and verify their identity and authority.
  • Keep copies of everything. Complaints, affidavits, receipts, emails, and acknowledgment slips.
  • Consult a lawyer where possible. Especially for high-value or complex scams, or when you might have legal exposure yourself.

XI. Sample Checklist When Reporting a Scam

Before you go to the police/NBI/prosecutor or regulator, check if you have:

  1. Identification

    • At least one valid government ID

  2. Basic Incident Information

    • Dates and times when the scam started and when you discovered it
    • Names/aliases of scammers and entities involved
    • Contact details and account identifiers used (phone numbers, email, usernames, bank accounts, e-wallet accounts)

  3. Financial Evidence

    • Deposit slips, remittance receipts, online transfer confirmations
    • Bank or e-wallet statements showing the transactions

  4. Communication Records

    • Screenshots of chats, emails, and social media messages
    • Screenshots or printouts of the scammer’s profile/page, group chats, or websites
    • Any recordings, if legally obtained

  5. Supporting Documents

    • Contracts, MOUs, promissory notes, “investment certificates”
    • Flyers, presentations, or promotional materials
    • Previous advisories (e.g., SEC warnings) you may have found about the entity

  6. Written Narrative / Draft Complaint

    • A chronological story of what happened, written in your own words
    • List of any other victims or witnesses with their contact details (if they consent)

  7. Reports Already Made

    • Reference numbers from bank, platform, or telco complaints
    • Police blotter numbers (if already filed)

Bring these when you go to the relevant police station, NBI office, prosecutor’s office, or regulatory agency.

XII. Conclusion

Reporting a scam in the Philippines is both a legal and practical process. It involves securing your accounts, preserving evidence, coordinating with banks and platforms, and filing complaints with law enforcement, prosecutors, and regulators. While not every case leads to recovery of money or conviction of the offender, proper reporting:

  • Increases your chances of redress,
  • Helps authorities identify patterns and syndicates, and
  • Protects others from becoming victims.

If the amount involved is significant, the scheme is complex, or you feel overwhelmed, it is wise to seek the assistance of a Philippine lawyer or authorized legal aid group who can guide you through the process based on the specifics of your case.

Disclaimer: This content is not legal advice and may involve AI assistance. Information may be inaccurate.

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