That "too good to be true" job offer in your DMs? Last week's numbers prove you're definitely not the only one getting it.

A report released last Thursday, October 8, estimates that Filipino adults lost about P121.8 billion to scams over the past year. The State of Scams Philippines 2026 report was published by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) with Mastercard and Gogolook, the company behind the Whoscall app, and presented at an anti-scam forum in Pasig City.

The figures are estimates based on a survey of 1,160 Filipino adults conducted from March to April 2026.

Almost everyone has been targeted

According to the report, 84% of adults encountered at least one scam attempt in the past 12 months, up from 77% the year before. The average person saw about 151 attempts in a year.

Of those who encountered a scam, 44% interacted with it, and about a third of them lost money. The average loss per victim was P10,427. Shopping scams were the most common, followed by investment and job scams.

Your e-wallet is the new target

The biggest shift is how scammers get paid. Reports on the study said e-wallet use by scammers to receive money rose to 73%, from 34%, while bank transfers dropped to 12% from 36%. The Philippines was the only Southeast Asian country where bank transfers declined.

Most attempts came through platforms with direct messaging. Instant messaging apps and social media posts were the top ways scammers reached people, and Facebook was the platform where respondents most often ran into scams.

The damage goes beyond money

82% of victims said the scam affected their mental well-being, and 22% said they could no longer afford basic essentials. About one in five parents said a child had been scammed.

Yet only 4% of respondents reported a scam to authorities, and only 12% of those who lost money got any of it back.

What's being done

The report called for a national coordinating body and shared case management. Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Director Rojun Hosillos said a document on a planned National Anti-Scam Hub is expected to be signed by the President soon.

GASA Asia-Pacific director Brian Hanley said every scam statistic represents a real person, while Mastercard Philippines country manager Jason Crasto said no single organization can solve the problem alone.

Quick self-defense tips

  • Be suspicious of any stranger who moves a "deal" or job offer to private messages.

  • Never share one-time passwords or PINs, even with someone claiming to be from your bank or e-wallet.

  • Double-check online sellers before sending money.

  • Don't pay "fines" or "fees" through links in random texts. Go to the official website or app yourself.

  • If you get scammed, report it right away to your e-wallet or bank and to authorities. Early reports give investigators a better chance.