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Ingat! Scam alerts

What to watch for, what to do, and where to report. Alerts always link to the official source.

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The weekly alert digest is starting soon. In the meantime, the patterns below cover the scams that hit Filipinos most often.

Common scam patterns

Fake job offers abroad

A recruiter promises a well-paid overseas job, then asks for money before you have seen an approved contract.

Warning signs

  • Asks for a large fee upfront, or for payment to a personal bank or e-wallet account
  • Tells you to leave as a tourist and "convert" to a work visa later
  • The agency is not on the DMW licensed list, or its name differs from the one in the post
  • The job is advertised only through social media posts or chat messages
  • Pressure such as "slots almost full" or "pay today to reserve"

What to do

  • Search the agency name in our recruiter check, then confirm on the DMW website
  • Ask for the approved job order and contract, and verify them with DMW before paying anything
  • Pay only against an official receipt, never to a personal account

Where to report

"Guaranteed returns" and "double your money" schemes

An investment offer promises high, fixed profits and rewards you for bringing in more people.

Warning signs

  • Fixed high returns with "no risk"
  • Earnings depend on recruiting others
  • Pressure to decide fast or to keep the offer secret

What to do

  • Check with the SEC whether the company is registered and allowed to solicit investments
  • Treat any promise of guaranteed profit as a warning sign
  • Only invest money you can afford to lose

Where to report

Too-good-to-be-true online sellers

A seller offers a popular item far below market price and pushes you to pay outside the platform.

Warning signs

  • Price far below normal with a "limited stock" push
  • Refuses cash on delivery or the platform's checkout
  • New account, few real reviews, or asks to move the chat elsewhere

What to do

  • Use the platform's own checkout so buyer protection applies
  • Prefer cash on delivery when it is offered
  • Check how long the seller has been active and read recent reviews

Where to report

Fake or double-sold concert tickets

A resale seller asks for full payment first, then sends a screenshot that is fake or already sold to someone else.

Warning signs

  • Seller only offers a screenshot or PDF of the ticket
  • Asks for payment by e-wallet before any official transfer
  • Price is far below the official price for a sold-out show
  • Seller only communicates through direct messages

What to do

  • Buy from the official ticketing channel whenever possible
  • Complete any transfer through the official ticketing app so the ticket moves to your account
  • Do not pay in full before the transfer is visible in your account

Where to report

"It's me, I'm in trouble" urgent money requests

Someone pretending to be a relative or friend on a new number asks you to send money right now.

Warning signs

  • A message from a "relative" on a number you do not recognise
  • Urgent story and a request to send money to a different account
  • Refuses a voice or video call

What to do

  • Call the person on the number you already have, or ask something only they would know
  • Pause before sending, scams rely on you acting fast
  • Agree on a family code word for emergencies

Where to report

Official resources