Today I Learned: Fewer Scam Text Messages, More Scam Calls Being Reported in the Philippines
Fewer scam text messages are being reported in the Philippines, but scammers seem to be shifting their tactics to focus more on phone call fraud, a report by an anti-scam app reveals.
According to trust tech Gogolook, which developed the anti-scam app Whoscall, scam text messages fell 68.83 percent to 648,239 texts in the first quarter of 2025 from 1.14 million during the same period last year.
Most text scams in the first quarter of 2025 involved loan-related schemes, which accounted for 55 percent of cases, followed by VIP rewards scams (24 percent), and collection-related scams (10 percent), the report said.
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Smaller percentages were seen in transaction verification (5 percent), job application fraud (3 percent), and delivery-related scams (3 percent).
“This significant decline in scam messages is a testament to the collective efforts of the Filipino people, government agencies, and private sector partners in combating fraud,” Gogolook Philippines Country Head Mel Migriño said.
However, on the flipside, scam calls increased 225.17 percent to 351,699 during the same period.
The report also revealed that 13,602 risky URLs were recorded, with 61 percent tied to loan-related scams, 21 percent linked to promotions and rewards, and 18 percent associated with adult gambling.
“The increase in scam calls clearly demonstrates a shift in scammers' tactics,” Migriño said. “We believe that by empowering users with anti-scam tools and reporting mechanisms, and by fostering a culture of vigilance, we can ultimately build a safer digital environment.”
“As scam tactics evolve, continued education, technological advancement, and strong partnerships will remain crucial in safeguarding the Filipino digital community,” said Migriño. “Gogolook remains dedicated to empowering users and working alongside its partners to create a safer online environment for all,” Migriño said.
Whoscall previously reported that a total of 6.16 million text scams were reported in the Philippines in 2024, with a majority (just over two million) being reported in the fourth quarter. There were a reported 600,000 Filipino victims of text scams last yeat, most of whom were reported in the fourth quarter (201,760).
