As holiday shopping surges nationwide, the
country’s leading finance super app GCash encourages Filipinos to enjoy the
season with peace of mind. Through its #GSafeTayo campaign, GCash is reminding
users to take simple precautions to keep transactions safe and secure, so our
celebrations remain merry, not messy.
“Christmas shopping should be joyful and
worry-free. GCash is closely working with our partners from DICT in reinforcing
its Oplan Paskong Sigurado campaign,” said Miguel Geronilla, Chief Security
Information Officer at GCash.
“Beyond a campaign, it’s a unified call to action
against cybercrimes. The message is clear — Mag-Ingat, Mag-Report,
Mag-Diwang during the holidays. We encourage everyone to stay alert,
promptly report suspicious activities, maximize free or affordable available
protective features, and transact only through trusted channels,” he added.
Safeguarding
digital transactions during the holidays
This reminder comes as GCash relentlessly and aggressively
aims to continue protecting the hard-earned money of millions of Filipinos.
From January to November 2025, more than 13,000 malicious posts were taken
down, 14,000 fake social media accounts were removed, and over 300 phishing
links were blocked.
In the same period, more than 466 million hacking
attempts and 130,000 account hackers were stopped immediately. These efforts
show how protection is continuously working behind the scenes, giving users
greater confidence as they shop and celebrate.
During the holiday season, DICT and law
enforcement groups call the public to stay vigilant against scams, including
fake sellers, phishing messages with links designed to steal login credentials,
video calls impersonating official company representatives, and smishing texts
requesting personal information or one-time passwords.
Strengthening
reporting and response mechanisms
DICT asks Filipinos to report suspicious activity via the
1326 hotline, which provides multi-channel reporting through calls, online
forms, and messaging apps. The DICT hotline also offers follow-up feedback on
cases to the complainant, and links reports to a centralized government
database for faster action, or through the eGovPH mobile application using its
eReport feature for convenient digital submissions.
Supporting these efforts, GCash also reminds
users to verify sellers, review feedback, avoid sharing sensitive information
outside official channels, and always transact through the official GCash app
or verified GCash channels.
GCash urges users to download the GCash app only
from official platforms, including Google Play Store for Android devices, Apple
App Store for iPhone and iPad, and Huawei AppGallery for Huawei devices. Users
are advised to avoid downloading the app from third-party sites, APK links, or
messages via SMS or email, which may contain malware. The developer should be
listed as Mynt - Globe Fintech Innovations, and users can also visit gcash.com
for direct app links.
Further, GCash also reminds users that it will
never ask for MPINs, OTPs, or personal details and will not send links via SMS,
email, or chat apps. Sharing this information can give scammers access to
accounts. Additionally, renting, lending, or allowing others to use your
personal GCash account is illegal under RA 12010 Anti-Financial
Account Scamming Act (AFASA), and may expose users to criminal
liability, including involvement in money muling and other fraudulent
activities.
These consumer-education efforts are reinforced
by the collaboration of GCash with government agencies, including the
Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center
(CICC), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC). Together, these institutions
coordinate to strengthen cybercrime monitoring, raise public awareness, and
respond swiftly to suspicious activity.
Providing
additional safeguards for online purchases
To further support users, GCash offers Online Shopping
Protect, which can be added when paying through GCash Pay Online. For a small
premium, it provides coverage of up to ₱20,000 for purchases that are not
delivered, arrive defective, and differ from what was described, are stolen, or
are damaged in transit. This option gives shoppers added assurance that their
money is safeguarded if something goes wrong with an online order.
Users who encounter unusual or suspicious
transactions are encouraged to report concerns through the GCash Help Center or
the in‑app assistance tool. GCash reminds everyone that it does not send
unsolicited messages to resolve account issues.
With stronger awareness, tighter surveillance,
and a unified response from both the private and public sectors, GCash believes
Filipinos can fully enjoy the season — merry and worry‑free.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com
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