How to Report an Online Betting Site Scam in the Philippines

A practical legal guide for victims, counsel, and compliance teams

Quick scope note: This is general information on Philippine law and procedure. It isn’t legal advice for your exact facts. If you risk self-incrimination (e.g., you placed bets on an unlicensed site), consult a lawyer before making public statements.

1) What counts as an “online betting site scam”?

Common patterns:

No-payout / withholding of winnings despite verification (“KYC”) already passed.
Deposit-only platforms (you can fund, but you can’t withdraw).
Account takeovers after you share OTPs or install “support” apps.
Rigged games / fake odds masquerading as licensed or “PAGCOR-approved.”
Investment-style betting (“VIP rooms,” “rebates,” “fixed returns”)—often a securities or pyramid scheme in disguise.

These schemes typically violate the Revised Penal Code (estafa, Art. 315) and may involve computer-related fraud under the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act No. 10175). If the operator is unlicensed, it may also be illegal gambling (e.g., PD 1602, RA 9287) and can trigger actions under PAGCOR’s charter (RA 9487).

2) Immediate steps (first 24–48 hours)

Cut off exposure
- Freeze cards/wallets used. Change passwords and enable MFA on email, bank, and e-wallets.
- If a SIM or device is compromised (malware, stolen OTPs), coordinate with your telco under the SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) for number change or blocking.
Preserve evidence (do not edit files)
- Full-screen screenshots with visible URL, date/time, and device clock.
- Screen recordings of login attempts, error messages, and rejected withdrawals.
- Copies of terms & conditions, KYC prompts, and chat/email threads.
- Payment proofs: transaction IDs, bank/e-wallet logs, card charge slips.
- Keep files in original formats. For emails, export as .eml/.msg. For chats, export whole conversations.
Write a contemporaneous memo
- Who you dealt with; what was promised; amounts; dates; channels (site, app, Telegram/WhatsApp); device(s) used; IPs if known.
Do not pay “unlock fees,” “tax prepayments,” or “verification deposits.” These are classic recovery-scam add-ons.

3) Where to report—Philippine authorities and what each one does

File with at least one law-enforcement cyber unit and your financial provider. Parallel reports are normal and helpful.

A) Criminal enforcement (primary)

NBI – Cybercrime Division Investigates cyber-enabled fraud and can coordinate digital forensics, takedowns, and referrals to prosecutors.
PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) Accepts complaints nationwide (including police stations), issues blotters, conducts investigations, and works with ISPs/telcos.
DOJ – Office of Cybercrime (OOC) Legal hub for cybercrime cases and mutual legal assistance (MLA) when servers/operators are abroad. Works with prosecutors for criminal filing.

B) Sectoral / regulatory escalations (supporting)

PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) For licensed operators (e.g., e-games, casinos). Handles regulatory complaints and illegal-operator intel for blocking/raids.
NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) Receives reports to block illegal domains/IPs and to address spam/SMS components of the scam.
BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) – Consumer Assistance For banks, card issuers, and e-money issuers (EMIs). Use when your bank/e-wallet doesn’t resolve a dispute or you need regulatory escalation under the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (RA 11765).
AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council)**/**Your Bank You can’t file a Suspicious Transaction Report yourself, but your bank/e-wallet can escalate to AMLC and attempt recall/freeze if funds are still in the system (AMLA, RA 9160; casinos covered by RA 10927).
NPC (National Privacy Commission) If your personal data was misused or leaked (Data Privacy Act, RA 10173).
SEC/DTI If the “betting” is really unregistered investment/securities or deceptive trade (e.g., guaranteed returns). SEC takes the lead on investments; DTI on deceptive consumer practices in commerce. (Gambling disputes with licensed operators generally sit with PAGCOR.)

4) How to structure your complaint (what to bring and say)

Minimum packet:

Sworn Complaint-Affidavit (see template below).
Government ID.
Evidence index (screenshots, screen recordings, emails, chat exports, bank/e-wallet statements).
Financial dispute letters (to issuing bank/e-wallet) with transaction details and timelines.

Key elements to allege:

Deceit (false promises of payout/odds/licensing) and reliance (you deposited, played, or complied with new “verification fees”).
Loss (exact amounts, dates, transaction IDs).
Use of a computer system (website/app, chats, OTPs)—this supports computer-related fraud under RA 10175.
Jurisdiction: Any element in the Philippines (victim located here, deposit via local bank, ads targeted at PH, etc.) is usually enough to lodge a case even if the site/server is offshore.

Chain of custody (digital evidence):

Keep originals; do not “enhance.” Make read-only copies.
Label devices/files; if possible, compute file hashes (your investigator can do this).
Note who handled evidence and when.

5) Criminal vs. civil vs. regulatory paths—how they work together

Criminal complaint (NBI/PNP → Prosecutor → Court) Focus: punishment and deterrence; restitution may be awarded as part of the criminal case because the civil action is generally deemed instituted unless waived.
Civil action (damages, rescission, unjust enrichment) If the amount is suitable, you may use the Small Claims rules (no lawyers’ appearances; documentary-driven). The monetary ceiling has been increased in recent years; check the current limit with the court clerk before filing. For higher amounts, file an ordinary civil action.
Regulatory complaints (PAGCOR, BSP, NTC, NPC) Parallel tracks that can lead to site blocking, license sanctions, or payment recalls—helpful even if the operator is offshore.
Arbitration/foreign forums in T&Cs Many scam sites cite Curaçao/other arbiters. These do not bar Philippine criminal prosecution if elements of the offense occurred here. For civil recovery, such clauses may complicate—but not always preclude—local filing; get counsel to assess enforceability.

6) Disputing the payments (chargebacks and recalls)

Credit/debit cards: File a dispute with your issuing bank immediately. Provide your evidence packet. Time limits under card network rules are strict. Even if you “authorized” the transaction, banks sometimes allow disputes for fraudulent misrepresentation or non-delivery of services.
E-wallets/bank transfers: Open a formal complaint with the provider. Ask for transaction recall or freeze if funds remain downstream. If unresolved, escalate to BSP Consumer Assistance under RA 11765.
Crypto: Provide the TXIDs and exchange/wallet info. Ask the exchange to flag addresses and freeze where possible (KYC’d counterparties help). Include this in your police report.

7) Special issues

Illegal gambling exposure: Participating on an unlicensed site can itself be penalized. If you fear exposure, speak with counsel about privileged reporting and how to frame your affidavit.
Minors: If a minor’s account was used, emphasize this (aggravating) in your complaint.
Employment/compliance: If the loss involves company funds, notify your compliance officer and insurer (cybercrime/fidelity cover) immediately; many policies have short notice windows.

8) Evidence you should collect (checklist)

✅ Full legal name you used on the site; username; account IDs
✅ URLs/domains, app names, and download source (official store vs. sideload)
✅ Marketing/promotional materials (screens, emails, social posts)
✅ KYC prompts and “verification” chats or tickets
✅ Transaction history: deposits/withdrawals (amount, date/time, reference IDs)
✅ Bank/e-wallet statements covering the period
✅ Device details (phone/PC model, OS, browser/app version)
✅ IP addresses if known; VPN/proxy info if used
✅ Contact handles of agents (Telegram/WhatsApp/Facebook, phone numbers)
✅ A short personal timeline of the scam

9) Sample documents you can adapt

A) Complaint-Affidavit (outline)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
___________________________ ) S.S.

COMPLAINT-AFFIDAVIT

I, [Full Name], Filipino, of legal age, [civil status], with address at [address],
after having been duly sworn, state:

1. I am the registered owner of the email/phone number [details] used to open an
   account at [Website/App Name] accessible at [URL/app details].

2. On [dates], I saw/received [ads/promotions] representing that [site] is [licensed/
   PAGCOR-approved/guarantees payouts/etc.]. I relied on these statements.

3. Between [date range], I deposited a total of ₱[amount], via [bank/e-wallet/card],
   under transaction references [list].

4. On [dates], I won/withdrew ₱[amount] but the platform [blocked/withheld/required
   additional “fees”/“taxes”/“verification deposits”]. Despite compliance, the site
   refused to release my funds.

5. I later discovered that [facts showing deceit/unlicensed status/rigged features].

6. Because of respondents’ deceitful acts using a computer system, I suffered loss
   amounting to ₱[amount], exclusive of interest and damages.

7. Attached are true copies of my evidence, marked as Annexes “A” to “[Z]”.

I am executing this affidavit to charge [Name(s), if known]/operators of
[Website/App] for ESTAFa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code and for
COMPUTER-RELATED FRAUD under RA 10175, and for other offenses as may be found.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I sign this on [date], in [city], Philippines.

[Signature]
[Name]
Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [date], affiant exhibited [ID details].

B) Bank/e-Wallet Dispute Letter (outline)

[Date]

Consumer Assistance
[Bank/e-Wallet]

Re: Dispute of transactions related to suspected online betting scam

I dispute the following transactions made to [Merchant/Website], totaling ₱[amount]:
[Date/Time – Amount – Reference].

The merchant misrepresented services and refused withdrawals. I enclose my police
report/complaint-affidavit, screenshots, and correspondence. Please initiate chargeback/
recall/freeze as applicable and advise me of interim credits and timelines.

Sincerely,
[Name, Account No., Contact]

10) Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a lawyer to file? A: Not to report to NBI/PNP, but counsel helps with affidavit framing, MLAT requests, and if you may have exposure (illegal gambling participation).

Q: The site says I must pay “tax” before withdrawing. Should I? A: No. Philippine taxes are not collected by private websites as a pre-condition to payouts. This is a hallmark of a scam.

Q: The operator is “licensed—POGO.” Does that protect me? A: No for locals. Offshore licenses are not authorization to offer to persons in the Philippines. Many scams misuse the term “POGO.”

Q: Can I get my money back? A: Recovery is fact-dependent: speed of reporting, whether funds remain in local rails, cooperation of payment intermediaries, and evidence quality. Filing both criminal and payment disputes maximizes your odds.

Q: Will the authorities block the site? A: They may—typically via coordination among law enforcement, PAGCOR, and the NTC. Your detailed report (with URLs, IPs, mirrors) helps.

11) Practical filing tips (what investigators appreciate)

Put your loss summary (by date and channel) on one page at the front.
Provide evidence on a USB drive plus printed key screenshots with captions.
If you installed any “remote support” apps, tell investigators; these can explain OTP leaks.
If you used multiple accounts or devices, label which files came from which device.
Don’t contact the scammers after filing—let law enforcement handle it.

12) If the operator is actually licensed by PAGCOR

Use the operator’s internal dispute process first (keep proof).
Escalate to PAGCOR with your packet. Licensed entities must keep logs and are subject to audit and sanctions, including payout directives and license penalties.

13) When you might skip public filing (speak to counsel first)

You fear retaliation/doxxing and need protective measures.
There’s employer data or regulated secrets on the compromised device.
You knowingly used an unlicensed site and need advice on safe disclosure.

14) One-page checklist (printable)

Stop payments; secure accounts; change passwords/MFA
Preserve evidence (screens, logs, chats, TXIDs)
Draft timeline memo
File with NBI/PNP (bring ID, affidavit, evidence index)
Dispute with bank/e-wallet; request recall/freeze
Escalate to PAGCOR/NTC as applicable
Consider NPC (privacy) / SEC (if “investment” flavor)
Consult counsel re: civil recovery / exposure
Keep a case log (who you spoke to, when, reference numbers)

Final word

In Philippine practice, speed + documentation win. Treat it like an incident response: secure accounts, preserve digital proof, report to cyber units, and push your payment disputes in parallel. If you want, tell me your facts (amount, channel, where you’re based) and I can adapt the affidavit and dispute letters to your situation.