In the digital age, the Philippines has seen a surge in sophisticated fraudulent schemes. These often manifest as High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIPs) or "Click-to-Earn" tasks, where victims are promised passive income for minimal effort. When these schemes collapse—as they inevitably do—victims must act swiftly within the framework of Philippine cybercrime and securities laws.

I. Understanding the Legal Nature of the Scam

Before filing a report, it is crucial to identify which laws have been violated. Most online scams in the Philippines fall under three primary categories:

Violations of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC): Under Republic Act No. 8799, any entity offering or selling securities (investments) to the public must have a secondary license from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Most online investment schemes lack this.
Cyber-Libel and Computer-Related Fraud: Under Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), "Computer-related Fraud" involves the unauthorized input, alteration, or deletion of computer data to achieve an economic benefit.
Estafa (Criminal Fraud): Under the Revised Penal Code, specifically Article 315, Estafa is committed when someone defrauds another through unfaithfulness, abuse of confidence, or false pretenses.

II. Immediate Steps: Evidence Preservation

The success of a legal complaint relies heavily on the quality of evidence. Prior to the perpetrators deleting their digital footprint, you must secure:

Screenshots: Capture the website URL, social media profiles, and public advertisements.
Communication Logs: Save copies of chats (Telegram, WhatsApp, Messenger) and emails.
Proof of Payment: Transaction receipts, deposit slips, GCash/PayMaya screenshots, or bank transfer confirmations.
Transaction History: Any "dashboard" snapshots showing your supposed earnings or balance.

III. Where to File Your Report

Depending on the nature of the scam, you should approach the following government agencies:

1. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

If the scam involves an investment scheme (even if it uses "tasks" as a front), the SEC is the primary regulator.

Action: Contact the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD).
Purpose: To verify if the company is registered and to initiate a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) or file criminal complaints for unauthorized solicitation.

2. PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG)

For scams involving hacking, identity theft, or purely digital "clicking" fraud.

Action: Visit the PNP-ACG headquarters at Camp Crame or their regional field units.
Process: You will undergo an initial interview and a technical evaluation of your digital evidence.

3. NBI Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD)

The National Bureau of Investigation handles complex fraud cases and has a dedicated cybercrime desk.

Action: File a formal complaint at the NBI Building in Manila or through their regional offices. They are often preferred for cases requiring deep forensic investigation.

4. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

If the scam utilized a pawnshop, remittance center, or a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP/Crypto Exchange).

Action: Report the account numbers or wallets used to the Financial Consumer Protection Department to help blacklist these channels.

IV. The Formal Complaint Process

Once you have chosen the agency, the legal process generally follows these steps:

Affidavit of Complaint: You must execute a Sworn Statement (Salaysay) detailing how you were recruited, how much you "invested," and the names/handles of the individuals involved.
Preliminary Investigation: If the agency finds merit, the case is forwarded to the National Prosecution Service (NPS) under the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Filing in Court: If the Prosecutor finds "probable cause," a Criminal Information will be filed in the proper Regional Trial Court (RTC), and a warrant of arrest may be issued.

V. Essential Reminders for Victims

The "Small Fish" Problem: In many clicking scams, the "mentors" or "admins" you talk to are often victims themselves or low-level recruits. While they can be sued, the ultimate goal is to identify the "Upline" or the platform owners.
Civil vs. Criminal: A criminal case aims to imprison the perpetrator. A civil case (or the civil aspect of the criminal case) aims to recover your money. However, recovering funds from an anonymous online entity is notoriously difficult once the money has been moved.
Group Complaints: There is strength in numbers. "Joint Complaints" often carry more weight and make it easier for law enforcement to justify a large-scale investigation.

VI. Summary of Contact Information

Agency	Primary Contact Method
SEC EIPD	epd@sec.gov.ph
PNP-ACG	(+632) 8723-0401 local 7483
NBI-CCD	ccd@nbi.gov.ph
DOJ-OOC	cybercrime@doj.gov.ph (Office of Cybercrime)