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Reports say Filipinos are now spending more time on social media than ever before, including senior citizens who used to avoid it. To many, social media offers a place to socialize, get entertained, find old friends, and discover new activities.
The sad part is that scammers are also spending more time on social media these days. Their malicious activities have moved from text and call-based scams which have sharply declined, to a new home – social media feeds and messaging apps.
In a recent report by Whoscall, a mobile anti-fraud app developed by Gogolook, social media has emerged as the top platform for scam links in the Philippines. Reports of suspicious links jumped by 28 percent in the second quarter of 2025, reaching nearly 19,000 incidents. This signals a dangerous shift in scam tactics, one that takes advantage of the very platforms where more Filipinos connect.
These scam links often masquerade as online gambling sites, fake promotions or rewards, and enticing loan offers. Online gambling-related scams rose a staggering 76 percent, while promotions and rewards scams increased 57 percent. The largest share, however, came from loan-related scams, which rose 20 percent to almost 10,000 reported cases.
The attacks are not random. Scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals—those struggling financially, looking for quick ways to earn or borrow money, or even just seeking entertainment. Their messages give the illusion of opportunity and that has become a dangerous weapon.
Gogolook attributes this surge to successful government crackdowns on SMS and call scams. There’s been a 95 percent drop in text scam reports and a 74 percent drop in scam calls compared to the same period last year. But this only pushed criminals into new territory.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) now faces the urgent challenge of policing deceptive content within social media apps and messaging platforms, where most people spend much of their time. Facebook, Viber, Telegram, and similar apps have become fertile ground for fraud. Unlike traditional messages that can be filtered by telcos, these apps often have less scrutiny and moderation, allowing scammers to operate freely.
So what can we do?
The most important step is awareness. Social media users must treat every link with caution, especially those promising free rewards, “easy” loans, or too-good-to-be-true opportunities. If a post, message, or comment includes a shortened URL or unfamiliar domain, don’t click it. Even if it appears to come from a friend or group chat, confirm with the sender before opening it—many scams involve hacked accounts spreading malicious content.
Just because something is widely shared doesn’t make it safe. Be especially wary of giveaways, contests, and loan offers that require you to “verify” your identity or input personal data. Legitimate institutions do not ask for sensitive information through random links.
The private sector—especially social media platforms—must step up their efforts to identify and take down scam content. Automated systems are not enough. Companies must invest in localized monitoring, and collaborate with cybersecurity agencies to crack down on these schemes in real time.
Finally, every user has a role to play. Report suspicious content immediately. Educate family members—especially the elderly or young—who may be more susceptible. Share stories of scams not to shame victims but to raise awareness.
The threat has simply changed its shape. Social media scams may look more modern, more personalized, and more convincing—but the goal is the same – to steal from the unsuspecting. Our vigilance must evolve just as fast as these digital crimes do.
