Discovering that an online casino, betting platform, gaming app, or supposed gaming agent has taken your money can be alarming—especially when the operator suddenly blocks your account, refuses a withdrawal, or demands another payment. In the Philippines, the fastest response is usually to preserve the evidence, contact the bank or e-wallet that sent the money, and report the incident to cybercrime authorities. This guide explains how to report an online gaming scam, which agencies handle different parts of the complaint, what documents to prepare, and what recovery options may be available.

What Counts as an Online Gaming Scam?

An online gaming scam involves deception connected with an online casino, betting site, gaming app, game-credit seller, tournament, or similar digital platform.

Common examples include:

A fake casino or betting website that accepts deposits but never allows withdrawals.
A cloned website that copies the name, logo, or design of a legitimate gaming operator.
An “agent” who asks players to send deposits to a personal bank or e-wallet account and then disappears.
A platform that displays fabricated winnings and demands a “tax,” “verification fee,” “AML fee,” or “account-unlocking fee” before releasing them.
Unauthorized withdrawals from a bank account or e-wallet after the victim disclosed a one-time password, PIN, or login credentials.
Fake game-credit, skin, item, or top-up sellers who receive payment but deliver nothing.
Investment schemes presented as gaming, betting, or “play-to-earn” opportunities.
Fraudsters who impersonate PAGCOR, a casino, a gaming company, or a customer-support representative.
A platform that collects identity documents and selfies for fraudulent account registration or identity theft.

Merely losing a bet or game does not automatically mean that a scam occurred. The stronger indicators of fraud are deliberate false representations, fake licensing claims, unauthorized transactions, nonexistent games or winnings, manipulated account balances, concealed withdrawal conditions, and repeated demands for additional money after a withdrawal request.

A disagreement with a legitimate operator over bonus rules or wagering requirements may begin as a consumer or regulatory dispute. It can become a possible criminal matter when there is evidence that the operator or its representatives intentionally deceived the player to obtain money.

Philippine Laws That May Apply

Estafa committed through an online platform

Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code punishes estafa, commonly called swindling. A typical online gaming scam may constitute estafa when:

The offender made a false statement or used a fraudulent scheme;
The deception occurred before or at the time the victim transferred money;
The victim relied on that deception; and
The victim suffered financial damage.

Examples include falsely claiming that a gaming platform is licensed, promising a withdrawal that the operator never intended to release, or pretending that an additional payment is required by PAGCOR or another government agency.

When estafa is committed through a website, messaging app, social-media account, computer system, or other information and communications technology, Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Republic Act No. 10175 may also apply. Criminal charges are commonly described as “estafa in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175.” (Lawphil)

Bank-account, e-wallet, and money-mule offenses

The Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Republic Act No. 12010, covers scams involving bank accounts, credit cards, e-wallets, and other financial accounts. It penalizes activities such as:

Allowing a financial account to be used to receive or transfer proceeds of crime;
Selling, renting, or lending an account;
Opening an account using a fictitious or stolen identity;
Buying or controlling accounts used as money-mule accounts; and
Using social engineering to obtain confidential account information.

A “money mule” is a person whose account is used to receive, move, or withdraw fraud proceeds. Some mules knowingly participate, while others claim that they were merely paid to lend their account.

RA 12010 also authorizes financial institutions to temporarily hold disputed funds under defined circumstances and conduct coordinated verification with other institutions. A temporary hold generally cannot exceed 30 calendar days unless extended by a court. The law also allows restitution and may impose liability on a financial institution that failed to exercise the degree of diligence required by law. (Lawphil)

Illegal or falsely licensed gambling operations

Online gambling is not automatically lawful merely because a website is accessible in the Philippines. A gambling operation must possess the authority required by Philippine law and comply with its licensing conditions.

The Supreme Court has explained that gambling or a game of chance is not illegal in every instance; it becomes illegal when conducted without the required license or authority or in violation of applicable regulations. PAGCOR regulates authorized games of chance under its jurisdiction. (Lawphil)

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, later referred to as Internet Gaming Licensees, were banned through Executive Order No. 74, series of 2024, with offshore gaming operations ordered to cease by December 31, 2024. A website claiming in 2026 that it is operating under a current Philippine “POGO license” should therefore be treated as a serious warning sign. The ban on offshore gaming does not mean that every domestically licensed online gaming service is prohibited. (Lawphil)

Electronic documents and digital evidence

The Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, Republic Act No. 8792 recognizes electronic documents and electronic data messages. The Supreme Court’s Rules on Electronic Evidence govern how electronic evidence may be authenticated and admitted in legal proceedings.

Screenshots can be useful, but screenshots alone are not always sufficient. Courts may reject electronic printouts or images when no competent witness can explain where they came from, how they were obtained, or whether they accurately represent the original data. Preserve the original messages, devices, transaction records, URLs, and account data rather than relying only on cropped images. (Lawphil)

What to Do Immediately After an Online Gaming Scam

1. Stop sending money

Do not pay any additional:

Withdrawal charge;
Account-unlocking fee;
Gaming tax;
Anti-money-laundering clearance fee;
Insurance deposit;
Verification payment;
Lawyer’s fee supposedly required by the platform;
Recovery fee; or
“Refund processing” charge.

Legitimate Philippine taxes and regulatory charges are not ordinarily collected by having a player transfer money to a customer-service agent’s personal bank or e-wallet account.

Fraudsters often continue extracting payments by showing a large but fictitious account balance. Each payment is followed by a new reason why the withdrawal cannot yet be processed.

2. Contact the sending bank or e-wallet immediately

Use the institution’s official fraud hotline, in-app support channel, or branch. Do not use a telephone number or link supplied by the suspected scammer.

Tell the institution that you are reporting a fraudulent or disputed transaction. Ask it to:

Secure your account and reset compromised credentials;
Record the incident through its Financial Consumer Protection Assistance Mechanism;
Determine whether the transfer can still be stopped;
Request a temporary hold or coordinated verification under RA 12010, when applicable;
Contact the receiving financial institution;
Flag the recipient account as a suspected money-mule account; and
Give you a written ticket, case, or reference number.

Provide the exact transaction ID, recipient name, account or mobile number, amount, date, and time. Speed is critical because scammers frequently transfer funds through several accounts or withdraw them shortly after receipt.

A hold is not an automatic refund. It preserves funds temporarily while the institutions verify the complaint. Recovery becomes more difficult once the money has left the regulated banking or e-wallet system.

3. Preserve the account and communications before they disappear

Take screenshots and, where possible, export or download:

The complete conversation;
The gaming account profile and balance;
Deposit and withdrawal pages;
Website address shown in the browser;
App-store listing or download page;
Advertisements and promotional posts;
Agent or customer-service profiles;
Payment instructions;
Transaction receipts;
Withdrawal rejection messages;
Requests for additional fees;
Terms and conditions;
Referral codes; and
Any licensing certificate displayed by the operator.

Capture the date and time. Include the full screen when possible so the username, URL, account name, and surrounding context remain visible.

Do not delete the app, close the gaming account, reset the telephone, or factory-reset the device until the evidence has been preserved. Make at least two backups, such as a secure cloud copy and an external drive.

4. Change passwords and secure linked accounts

Change the passwords for:

The gaming account;
Email account;
Online banking;
E-wallets;
Social-media accounts; and
Any account using the same or a similar password.

Log out other devices, enable multi-factor authentication, and contact your mobile provider if you suspect SIM swapping. If you sent a photograph of your ID, monitor for unauthorized account openings and impersonation attempts.

5. Write a clear chronology

Prepare a timeline while the events are still fresh. Include:

When and where you saw the advertisement;
What the operator or agent promised;
Why you believed the platform was legitimate;
Every payment and recipient account;
What happened when you attempted to withdraw;
Every additional fee demanded;
When communication stopped; and
What you did after discovering the fraud.

A good chronology helps the police, NBI, prosecutor, and financial institution understand the scheme without having to reconstruct it from hundreds of screenshots.

Where to Report an Online Gaming Scam in the Philippines

Reporting to more than one office is often necessary because each office performs a different function.

Office or institution	What it can do	How to report
Sending bank or e-wallet	Secure the account, trace or flag the transfer, communicate with the receiving institution, and consider a temporary hold	Use the institution’s official fraud hotline, app, website, or branch
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center	Receive and coordinate cybercrime reports among relevant agencies	Call 1326, use the eGovPH reporting facility when available, or email report@cicc.gov.ph
PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group	Conduct cybercrime investigation, identify account holders and digital suspects, and prepare cases	Visit the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or an appropriate regional cybercrime unit; email acg@pnp.gov.ph
NBI Cybercrime Division	Investigate online fraud, obtain digital and financial records through lawful processes, and refer cases for prosecution	Use the NBI Online Complaint facility or email ccd@nbi.gov.ph
PAGCOR	Verify or investigate claims involving PAGCOR-regulated gaming operators and report unauthorized use of PAGCOR’s name or logo	Use PAGCOR’s regulatory contact page or email eGaming_Policy@pagcor.ph
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	Handle escalated complaints against BSP-supervised banks and e-money issuers after the institution’s internal complaint process	Use the BSP Online Buddy complaint channel or the BSP Consumer Assistance Mechanism
National Privacy Commission	Investigate misuse, unauthorized disclosure, or fraudulent processing of personal information	Follow the NPC complaint procedure

The CICC’s 1326 hotline operates as a central reporting channel for cybercrime and online scams. It does not replace the need to contact the financial institution immediately or to cooperate with the law-enforcement agency assigned to investigate the case. (Philippine Information Agency)

How to Check Whether an Online Gaming Site Is PAGCOR-Licensed

Do not rely on a PAGCOR logo, a screenshot of a supposed certificate, or the statement of an agent.

Check the exact website domain against PAGCOR’s official lists:

The spelling of the domain matters. A scammer may copy a legitimate brand but use an address with an extra letter, hyphen, unusual subdomain, or different domain ending.

For example, confirmation that example.com is registered does not establish that example-vip.com, example.ph, or example-bonus.net belongs to the same licensee. PAGCOR’s lists identify registered brands and domains separately and are updated periodically. The cited official lists were dated June 30, 2026.

If the domain does not appear, send PAGCOR:

The exact URL;
Screenshots of the licensing claim;
The operator or brand name;
The agent’s contact details;
Payment instructions; and
Your account and transaction information.

A PAGCOR report helps determine whether the operator is authorized, but it does not take the place of a bank dispute or criminal complaint.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Criminal Complaint

1. Organize your evidence

Arrange the records in chronological order. Use descriptive file names, such as:

01-Facebook-ad-2026-07-02.png
02-chat-with-agent.pdf
03-bank-transfer-receipt.pdf
04-withdrawal-request.png
05-demand-for-tax-payment.png

Create a one-page transaction summary showing each payment, recipient, account number, date, amount, and transaction reference.

2. Prepare your identification and contact information

Bring:

A valid government-issued ID;
Your current address and contact details;
The email address and telephone number used for the gaming account;
Proof that the bank or e-wallet account belongs to you; and
Your bank or e-wallet complaint reference.

Keep the originals and prepare several photocopy sets. Do not surrender your only copy of an important record unless the receiving officer gives a proper acknowledgment.

3. Report to the CICC, PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, or NBI

You may begin with the CICC’s 1326 hotline for referral or proceed directly to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI Cybercrime Division.

At intake, explain the essential facts in this order:

What representation was made;
Why it was false;
How it caused you to transfer money;
Where the money was sent;
What happened afterward; and
How much you lost.

You may initially receive a complaint reference, incident report, or police blotter entry. A blotter records the incident, but it is not always the same as a complete criminal complaint supported by sworn affidavits.

4. Execute a complaint-affidavit

A complaint-affidavit is your sworn written narration of the offense. It should identify the respondent if known and state:

Your personal circumstances;
How you encountered the platform or suspect;
The exact statements or promises made;
The dates and amounts of all transfers;
The recipient accounts;
Why you relied on the representations;
How you discovered the fraud;
The total damage; and
The evidence attached to the affidavit.

Attach and label the supporting documents as annexes. If other people witnessed relevant conversations or experienced the same scheme, they may execute separate witness affidavits.

Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, affidavits submitted for preliminary investigation are generally sworn before a prosecutor or another government officer authorized to administer oaths. A notary may be used when the authorized government officer is unavailable. The receiving office may require its own complaint or investigation-data form. (Lawphil)

5. Cooperate with requests for additional evidence

Investigators may request:

A certified bank statement;
Confirmation from the bank or e-wallet;
The original device for forensic examination;
An exported copy of messages;
Email headers;
Account-registration records;
Details of other victims; or
Clarification of inconsistencies in the chronology.

Do not edit or “improve” screenshots. Explain any missing communications honestly. Altered evidence can weaken an otherwise valid complaint.

6. Follow the case through investigation and prosecution

The investigator may seek subscriber data, account-opening records, transaction histories, IP-related information, CCTV footage, and preservation of digital records through lawful procedures.

If sufficient evidence identifies a suspect, the complaint may be filed with the appropriate prosecutor’s office for preliminary investigation. This is the stage where the prosecutor determines whether there is probable cause to bring the accused to court.

Venue and jurisdiction depend on the facts, including where the deception was received, where the transfer or financial damage occurred, where relevant devices or accounts were located, and where the suspect operated. The investigating agency or prosecutor should determine the correct filing office rather than assuming that the case can be filed in any city.

Evidence Checklist

Evidence	Why it matters
Full website URL and domain	Distinguishes a legitimate operator from a cloned or similarly named site
App-store page or download source	Identifies the app, developer, and distribution channel
Complete chats and emails	Shows the fraudulent representations and sequence of events
Bank or e-wallet receipts	Proves the amount, recipient, date, and transaction reference
Bank statements	Confirms actual financial loss
Withdrawal requests and rejections	Shows what happened after the deposit or claimed winnings
Requests for extra fees	May demonstrate an escalating advance-fee scheme
PAGCOR licensing claims	Helps establish false representation or unauthorized use of a regulator’s name
Advertisements and social-media profiles	Identifies how the victim was recruited and links accounts to the scheme
Telephone numbers, usernames, QR codes, and recipient accounts	Gives investigators traceable identifiers
Crypto-wallet address and transaction hash	Allows blockchain transactions to be followed, although recovery may be difficult
Device containing the original records	Helps authenticate electronic evidence
Written chronology	Makes the complaint easier to understand and investigate
Bank, CICC, PNP, or NBI reference numbers	Connects reports made to different institutions

Preserve the original format whenever possible. For emails, save the message with its full headers. For messaging apps, use the export function in addition to screenshots. For websites, save the URL and date of access because the page may later be removed.

Avoid secretly recording a private telephone conversation. The Anti-Wiretapping Act, Republic Act No. 4200, may prohibit recording certain private communications without the required consent or legal authority. Instead, keep contemporaneous written notes and preserve any voicemail voluntarily left by the caller. (Lawphil)

Complaining to the BSP About a Bank or E-Wallet

The BSP ordinarily requires the consumer to complain first through the bank or e-money issuer’s internal Financial Consumer Protection Assistance Mechanism.

Escalate the matter to the BSP when:

The institution fails to acknowledge or investigate the complaint;
You receive no meaningful response within its stated period;
The institution refuses to provide a complaint reference;
There is a dispute over how an unauthorized transaction was handled;
The institution appears not to have followed applicable fraud-response procedures; or
You disagree with its final response.

Submit:

Your written complaint;
The institution’s case or ticket number;
Its final response, if any;
Transaction details;
Relevant screenshots and statements; and
A concise explanation of the remedy you are requesting.

The BSP complaint process is not a substitute for a cybercrime report. BSP itself advises scam victims to report criminal conduct to the CICC, PNP, or NBI while pursuing the financial-consumer complaint.

Reporting Misuse of Your Personal Information

File a complaint with the National Privacy Commission when the gaming platform or scammer:

Uses your ID to open an account;
Publishes or threatens to publish your personal information;
Discloses your identity documents without authority;
Uses your selfie for impersonation;
Continues processing your information after a fraudulent collection; or
Causes a data breach affecting your personal or financial data.

The NPC generally requires a verified or notarized complaint and supporting evidence. A complainant abroad may need to have the complaint notarized through a Philippine embassy or consulate or apostilled, depending on the country and the applicable authentication rules. (National Privacy Commission)

How Long Does the Process Take?

Stage	Practical expectation
Reporting to the bank or e-wallet	Immediately, preferably within minutes or hours
Temporary fraud hold	Subject to legal and institutional requirements; generally no more than 30 calendar days without a court extension
CICC, police, or NBI intake	Often completed the same day when records are complete
Initial cybercrime investigation	Several weeks or months, depending on account tracing and cooperation from platforms and institutions
Preliminary investigation before a prosecutor	Often several months, particularly when respondents are numerous, unidentified, or located abroad
Court proceedings	Potentially years in contested or complex cases
Financial recovery	May occur earlier if funds are successfully held, but otherwise may depend on investigation, settlement, or judgment

Delays commonly arise when:

The victim reported too late;
Funds passed through several mule accounts;
The account holder used a stolen identity;
The website or platform is based abroad;
Records must be requested from multiple institutions;
The scammer used cryptocurrency;
The evidence consists only of incomplete screenshots; or
The suspect’s identity and location remain unknown.

Fees and Expenses

Reporting an incident to the CICC, police, or NBI should not require payment to an investigator merely to receive the complaint. NBI’s published procedures indicate no government fee for ordinary complaint intake.

Possible incidental expenses include:

Notarial fees;
Photocopying and printing;
Certified bank records;
Translation;
Apostille or consular services;
Courier charges;
Transportation; and
Professional fees when privately engaging counsel or a technical expert.

Be cautious of anyone who claims to be an investigator and demands payment to “release,” “trace,” or “freeze” funds through a personal account.

Can the Stolen Money Be Recovered?

Recovery depends heavily on where the money is and how quickly the incident was reported.

The best prospects generally exist when:

The transfer remains pending;
The funds are still in the first recipient account;
The receiving institution places a lawful hold;
The mule account has not been emptied;
The institution can reverse an unauthorized transaction under its rules;
The account holder cooperates; or
Authorities seize or preserve identifiable assets.

Recovery is more difficult when the funds have been:

Withdrawn in cash;
Divided among several accounts;
Converted to cryptocurrency;
Sent through foreign payment systems;
Used to purchase digital assets; or
Transferred to an operator outside effective Philippine jurisdiction.

Under Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, a person criminally liable for a felony is generally also civilly liable. Civil liability may include restitution, reparation, and indemnification. RA 12010 also contains restitution and liability provisions applicable to financial-account scamming. A criminal complaint can therefore include a claim for the amount lost, although a judgment does not guarantee actual collection when the offender has no identifiable assets. (Lawphil)

Special Considerations for Foreigners and Victims Abroad

A foreign national can report an online gaming scam involving the Philippines. RA 12010 may apply where an element of the offense occurred in the Philippines, a relevant computer or financial system was located partly in the Philippines, the affected financial account was maintained with a Philippine institution, or the damage was suffered by a person within the Philippines. (Lawphil)

A victim outside the country should:

Contact the Philippine bank or e-wallet immediately;
Report through CICC 1326 or the relevant online reporting channel;
Contact the NBI Cybercrime Division or PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group;
Preserve records showing the Philippine recipient account, operator, agent, or other Philippine connection;
Ask the receiving agency about its affidavit and authentication requirements; and
Keep original documents until instructed where and how to submit them.

A complaint-affidavit signed abroad may be notarized before a Philippine embassy or consulate. Depending on the country, it may instead be signed before a local notary and apostilled under the Apostille Convention. Documents from a country that does not use the apostille process may require consular authentication or legalization. The Department of Foreign Affairs provides current guidance on the Philippine apostille process. (Philippine Embassy in New Delhi)

Documents in another language should usually be accompanied by an English translation. A Philippine representative or lawyer may assist through a special power of attorney, but the complainant may still be required to execute a personal affidavit and testify if the case proceeds.

Common Mistakes That Weaken an Online Gaming Scam Report

Waiting for the scammer to “process” the refund

A promise that the money will be released after 24 or 48 hours is often used to delay reporting until the account has been emptied.

Paying one more fee

An operator that has already invented several charges is unlikely to release the money after another payment. Stop the loss and report immediately.

Reporting only to PAGCOR

PAGCOR can address licensing and regulatory issues, but it does not replace the bank’s fraud process, cybercrime investigation, or prosecutor’s proceedings.

Treating a police blotter as the complete case

A blotter entry is useful evidence that the incident was promptly reported. It may not contain the sworn allegations and annexes required for preliminary investigation.

Deleting the app or conversation

Deletion can destroy metadata, message context, account identifiers, and the best available version of the evidence.

Posting every detail publicly

Public warnings can help other victims, but publishing sensitive evidence may alert suspects, expose account information, or complicate an investigation. Redact IDs, account numbers, addresses, QR codes, and authentication information.

Hiding the fact that the platform may have been unauthorized

Give investigators a truthful account. Using an unlicensed gaming platform may raise separate legal questions, but concealing facts can damage credibility and prevent investigators from identifying the scheme. Being deceived does not remove a victim’s ability to report fraud.

Hiring an unverified “fund recovery expert”

Recovery scammers search for people who have publicly reported losses. They may claim to be lawyers, hackers, regulators, blockchain investigators, or foreign agents. Verify professional licenses and never provide remote access, passwords, one-time passwords, or advance payments to a stranger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report an online gaming scam even if I lost only a small amount?

Yes. There is no practical reason to ignore a scam merely because the amount is small. The same recipient account may have received money from many victims. Your report may help establish a pattern and identify a larger operation.

Can I file a complaint if I do not know the scammer’s real name?

Yes. Provide every available identifier, including telephone numbers, usernames, URLs, recipient accounts, QR codes, email addresses, transaction references, and crypto-wallet addresses. Investigators may seek account-registration and subscriber information through lawful procedures.

Is a PAGCOR complaint enough?

No. Report licensing or regulatory concerns to PAGCOR, but separately contact your bank or e-wallet and a cybercrime authority. PAGCOR cannot by itself reverse a transfer or prosecute estafa.

Can GCash, Maya, or a bank automatically reverse the payment?

Not necessarily. A completed transfer is not automatically reversible merely because the sender later reports fraud. The institution must examine the transaction, the status of the funds, applicable rules, and whether the transfer was authorized. Immediate reporting gives the institution the best opportunity to hold or trace remaining funds.

What if I voluntarily sent the money?

A voluntary transfer can still result from estafa when the payment was induced by fraud. The important issue is whether the scammer made a material false representation that caused you to send the money.

What if I gave the scammer my OTP or PIN?

Report the incident immediately and explain exactly how the information was obtained. Sharing an OTP may affect the institution’s assessment, but it does not make social engineering lawful. RA 12010 expressly addresses financial-account scams and social-engineering schemes.

Do I need a lawyer to report the scam?

A lawyer is not required merely to call the CICC, report to the police or NBI, or open a fraud complaint with a bank. Legal assistance can become useful when preparing a complex affidavit, addressing possible exposure from an unauthorized gambling platform, seeking civil recovery, or dealing with a foreign operator.

What if the website appears on PAGCOR’s list but refuses my withdrawal?

Save the terms that applied when you deposited, the wagering history, withdrawal request, stated reason for refusal, and all communications. Complain first to the operator through its official channel, then report unresolved regulatory issues to PAGCOR. Report to cybercrime authorities when there is evidence of intentional deception, fabricated charges, identity theft, or unauthorized transactions.

Can I report the scam while living outside the Philippines?

Yes. Contact the relevant Philippine financial institution, CICC, PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, or NBI. Ask the receiving office whether your sworn complaint must be executed before a Philippine consular officer or before a local notary and apostilled.

Will I get in trouble for using an illegal online gaming site?

Participation in unauthorized gambling can raise issues under Philippine gambling laws, depending on the facts. However, fraud, identity theft, and financial-account scamming remain reportable. Give a truthful account and do not fabricate or conceal evidence. Where possible exposure is a concern, obtain legal guidance before executing a detailed sworn affidavit.

Key Takeaways

Contact the sending bank or e-wallet immediately and obtain a fraud-complaint reference number.
Ask whether the disputed funds can be held or traced under RA 12010 and applicable BSP rules.
Preserve complete chats, URLs, transaction records, account identifiers, and original electronic data.
Report the incident to CICC 1326, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, or the NBI Cybercrime Division.
Report false licensing claims or misconduct by a regulated operator to PAGCOR.
Verify the exact website domain against PAGCOR’s current official lists.
Do not pay additional “tax,” “verification,” “unlock,” or recovery fees.
A police blotter helps document the incident but may not replace a sworn complaint-affidavit.
Reporting quickly improves the chance of preserving funds and digital evidence, although recovery is never automatic.
Foreigners and victims abroad may report Philippine-connected scams and can execute properly authenticated affidavits overseas.