How to Report, Preserve Evidence, and Try to Recover Your Money (Philippine Context)

1) What these scams look like

“Online lending scam” typically refers to fraudsters posing as legitimate lenders (often via Facebook, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, SMS, email, or look-alike websites/apps) and demanding an upfront payment—commonly called an “assurance fee,” “processing fee,” “release fee,” “insurance,” “verification fee,” “membership,” “activation,” or “doc stamp”—before they “release” a loan.

The hallmark is simple:

They take an upfront fee, then the loan never comes (or new fees keep appearing).

Sometimes the scam evolves into extortion (threats to post your ID/selfie), identity theft, or account takeovers.

2) Common patterns and red flags

A. Upfront-fee “loan approval” scam (classic)

You apply and are “approved” quickly.
They send a “loan contract” or “certificate” (often generic, poorly drafted).
They require an “assurance fee” or “release fee” first.
After you pay, they invent new fees (tax, anti-money laundering, transfer fee, notarization, “BSP clearance,” etc.).
Then they disappear, block you, or keep squeezing.

Red flags

Guaranteed approval, no credit checks.
Pressure tactics: “Pay within 30 minutes or approval expires.”
Payment requested to personal accounts, e-wallets, remittance names, or rotating bank accounts.
They refuse video calls or official channels.
They discourage you from verifying registration with regulators.

B. “Refundable assurance fee” / “security deposit” trap

They claim the fee is refundable or deductible from proceeds, but it’s just a hook.

C. Fake customer support / fake collection

They pretend you have an “existing loan” or “pending loan” you must settle.
They may show screenshots of a “disbursed” transaction that never hit your account.

D. Identity harvesting + blackmail

They ask for:

Government ID, selfie holding ID, and sometimes access to contacts (apps). Later, they threaten to expose you, message your contacts, or accuse you of “loan fraud” unless you pay.

E. Malware / phishing loan links

Links install malicious apps or steal OTPs/credentials, leading to drained e-wallet/bank funds.

3) Why “assurance fees” are legally suspicious

Legitimate lending can involve lawful charges (interest, service fees, documentary stamp tax, etc.), but a scam is characterized by misrepresentation and intent to defraud—especially when:

the “lender” is not real or not authorized,
the loan is never actually disbursed,
fees keep escalating,
payments are funneled to personal accounts,
documents/identity are used as leverage.

In practice, pay-first-to-get-the-loan is one of the most common fraud setups. Even when a business claims it’s “standard,” your focus is: Were you deceived into paying because of false promises of a loan release?

4) Key Philippine laws that may apply (plain-English guide)

This section helps you understand what authorities typically use to pursue these cases.

A. Estafa (Swindling) — Revised Penal Code

If someone defrauds you by false pretenses, deceit, or fraudulent acts—e.g., promising a loan release in exchange for an upfront fee, then not releasing and disappearing—this commonly falls under estafa.

What matters:

Deceit (false claims: “loan approved,” “fee required for release”),
Damage (you lost money),
Reliance (you paid because you believed them).

B. Cybercrime — RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act)

If the scam is committed using ICT (online platforms, messaging apps, websites), prosecutors may treat the offense as computer-related fraud and/or apply cybercrime provisions to online conduct and evidence.

C. E-Commerce Act — RA 8792

Supports recognition of electronic documents, messages, and transactions as evidence, and helps frame liability for online misrepresentations.

D. Identity-related offenses / falsification / use of fictitious names

Depending on facts, cases may include:

Using fake identities,
Forged documents,
Misuse of names/accounts.

E. Data Privacy Act — RA 10173 (if your data was abused)

If they collected or processed personal data unlawfully, or used your contacts/photos/IDs for harassment or extortion, this may trigger data privacy issues—especially if:

they obtained data without valid consent,
consent was forced or deceptive,
data was used beyond stated purposes,
they disclosed your info to third parties.

F. Financial consumer protection framework

If the entity is legit but abusive, consumer-protection rules may come into play (for unfair, deceptive, or abusive conduct). But for pure scams, criminal/cybercrime routes are usually primary.

G. Lending company regulation / licensing issues

If the “lender” claims to be a lending company but is not properly registered/authorized, that can support administrative action and strengthen your complaint narrative (misrepresentation of authority).

5) Immediate steps if you paid an “assurance fee”

Time matters. Do these in order.

Step 1: Stop sending money and stop negotiating

Do not pay “final fees,” “release clearance,” or “refund processing.”
Scam scripts are designed to keep you paying.

Step 2: Preserve evidence (this is critical)

Create a folder and save:

Screenshots of the entire conversation (include timestamps, usernames/IDs).
Payment proof: receipts, transaction IDs, bank transfer details, e-wallet logs.
Any “contracts,” “approvals,” IDs they sent, voice notes, call logs.
URLs, pages, app names, download links, QR codes.
Names/handles of accounts, phone numbers, bank account numbers, and beneficiaries.
If extortion: screenshots of threats, lists of contacts they messaged, posts made.

Tip: Export chat history when possible, and back it up to a separate drive.

Step 3: Secure your accounts and identity

If you sent sensitive info:

Change passwords of email, social media, e-wallets, bank apps.
Enable 2FA where available.
Watch for OTP phishing attempts.
Consider contacting your bank/e-wallet to flag possible fraud.

If you gave copies of IDs:

Be alert for loan/credit applications or SIM registration misuse.
Keep a record of what you shared and when.

Step 4: Attempt quick recovery through the payment channel

Your best recovery chance is often fast action with the bank/e-wallet.

If bank transfer

Call your bank immediately, report fraud/scam transfer, request:
- recall/reversal (if possible),
- freezing of beneficiary account (subject to process),
- official transaction certification for complaint.

If e-wallet

Use in-app fraud reporting and hotline.
Ask about hold/reversal mechanisms and account tracing.

If remittance

Contact the remittance center quickly; some have cancellation windows if not yet claimed.

Be realistic: reversals are not guaranteed, but fast reporting improves odds.

6) How to report in the Philippines (practical roadmap)

You can file reports in parallel. For scams, you usually do (1) law enforcement + (2) regulator/agency + (3) platform/payment provider.

A. Law enforcement for cybercrime and fraud

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)

Good first stop for online fraud, phishing, social media scams.

NBI Cybercrime Division

Also handles online scams, evidence processing, and case build-up.

What to bring:

Government ID
Printed and digital copies of evidence (USB/cloud link)
Timeline of events (see template below)
Transaction proofs and account details of recipients

Outcome:

Blotter/complaint, possible subpoena requests, coordination with banks/platforms, and referral to prosecution.

B. Regulator / industry complaints (useful for takedowns and warnings)

Depending on how they presented themselves:

SEC (if they claim to be a lending company/financing company or use a company name)

Useful for checking legitimacy and reporting unregistered/illegal lending operations, deceptive entities, and for advisories/takedown coordination.

BSP / relevant consumer assistance channels (if the issue involves BSP-supervised institutions or payment service providers)

If the scam used a bank/e-money institution and you need escalation regarding handling of your fraud dispute.

National Privacy Commission (NPC)

If you experienced doxxing, harassment using your personal data, unlawful disclosure, or coercive data collection.

C. Report to the platform

Facebook/Meta, Telegram, Viber, etc.: report account/page, impersonation, scam.
App stores: report the app (if an app was used), especially for contact-harvesting behavior.
Domain registrar/hosting: report fraudulent sites (if you can identify the URL).

D. Report to your telco (if SMS/phone-based)

Report scam numbers and SMS to your telco’s spam/scam channels to help block/trace patterns.

7) Building a strong complaint: the “Case File” authorities want

A clean case file speeds things up.

A. One-page timeline (sample structure)

Date/Time: Saw ad / got message from [name/handle/number].
Date/Time: Applied; sent requirements [list].
Date/Time: “Approved” for ₱___ loan; asked to pay “assurance fee” ₱___.
Date/Time: Paid via [bank/e-wallet], transaction ID ___.
Date/Time: They demanded additional fee ₱___ for [reason].
Date/Time: No loan received; they blocked / kept demanding / threatened me.

B. Attachments checklist

Screenshots (chronological)
Payment receipts
Bank/e-wallet statements (relevant lines)
IDs/documents exchanged
Links/URLs
Notes: exact amounts and account numbers

C. Identify the “money trail”

Even if names are fake, banks/e-wallets keep KYC trails. Provide:

Account name shown (even partial)
Account number / wallet number
Transaction reference numbers
QR code images if used

8) Recovery options: what is realistic (and what isn’t)

A. Best-case recovery paths

Payment reversal/hold before funds are withdrawn (rare but possible).
Account freeze / interdiction via law enforcement request and bank cooperation (case-dependent).
Restitution as part of criminal case resolution or settlement (varies).
Civil action for damages or recovery if identity is established and assets are reachable.

B. Hard truths

Many scammers use mule accounts, quick cash-outs, or layered transfers.
Recovery is often difficult once funds move out.
Your strongest leverage is speed + documentation.

C. Beware of “recovery scams”

After you’re scammed, you may be contacted by “agents” who promise to recover funds for another fee. Treat that as a second scam unless verified and official.

9) If they’re threatening you or harassing your contacts

This is common in loan-related online abuse.

A. Treat it as an extortion/harassment + privacy issue

Preserve:

Threat messages
Proof they contacted others
Screenshots of posts/messages sent to your friends
Any demand for payment to stop публика/harassment

B. Practical safety steps

Lock down social media (privacy settings, limit who can message/tag).
Inform close contacts: “If you receive messages about me, please ignore and screenshot.”
Consider changing number if harassment is severe (but preserve the old SIM data if possible for evidence).
Report the accounts to platforms immediately.

C. Don’t “pay to stop the shame”

Paying often escalates demands because it proves you’ll pay.

10) Prevention: how to verify lenders and avoid upfront-fee traps

A. Verification habits

Don’t rely on “certificates” they send.
Verify the entity’s legitimacy through official channels before sharing data or paying anything.
Be suspicious of lenders that only operate via chat apps and personal accounts.

B. Payment logic test

Ask: If they can disburse a loan, why can’t they deduct fees from proceeds? Scammers will insist the fee must be paid first because they never intended to lend.

C. Data minimization

Never give access to contacts/photos/files to any loan app.
Avoid sending high-quality scans of IDs unless you are dealing with a verified institution.
Use watermarks on ID copies when you must submit (e.g., “For [Company] loan application only – date”).

11) Sample “Demand + Notice” message (optional, careful use)

Sometimes you may want to send one final written notice before filing, mainly to create a record. Keep it factual and non-threatening.

What to include

Transaction details
Request for return of funds
Deadline (e.g., 48 hours)
Notice that you will file complaints with PNP ACG/NBI/SEC/NPC and your bank/e-wallet

Do not

Reveal extra personal info
Argue emotionally
Send more money
Click new links they send

(If you choose to send a notice, screenshot it and their response.)

12) When you should talk to a lawyer

Consider legal counsel if:

Loss amount is significant,
You know the real identity (or have strong leads),
There’s ongoing harassment/doxxing,
Your identity was used for other obligations,
You need coordinated criminal + civil strategy.

A lawyer can help structure affidavits, preserve admissible evidence, and coordinate with prosecutors—especially where multiple victims are involved.

13) Quick action checklist (printable)

Stop paying; stop engaging beyond evidence capture
Screenshot/export all chats + save URLs/handles/numbers
Gather receipts, transaction IDs, beneficiary details
Report to bank/e-wallet immediately; request fraud handling
Change passwords; enable 2FA; secure accounts
File with PNP ACG or NBI Cybercrime (bring full case file)
Report to SEC if lender identity/company is involved
Report to NPC if data misuse/harassment occurred
Report accounts/pages/apps to platforms/app stores
Warn contacts and lock down social media

14) Final note (important)

This article is for general information in the Philippine context and is not legal advice for your specific situation. If you share what happened (amount, payment method, platform used, and whether you sent IDs/contacts), I can help you organize a case timeline, an evidence checklist, and a draft complaint narrative you can bring to PNP ACG/NBI and to your bank/e-wallet.