PNP boosts anti-cybercrime drive

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine National Police's Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG)-7 has the full support of the Cebu City government as it intensifies its anti-cybercrime awareness campaign.

This was assured by Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia following the courtesy visit of the newly-installed PNP ACG-Central Visayas Director Fidel Fortaleza, Jr. to his office.

Fortaleza visited Garcia along with Police Lt. Mark Fredeluces of the Cebu Cyber Response Team.

The visit led to the discussion on the complaints received by ACG-7, including from victims of online selling, online financial transactions, investment scams, online dating scams, and phishing and smishing scams.

Phishing is a common type of cyberattack through email, text messages, phone calls, and other forms of communication, while smishing is carried out through mobile text messaging that compels recipients to click a link and send private information or leads to downloading malicious programs to a smartphone.

According to the City’s PIO, Fortaleza said complaints shot-up by 80 percent from January to August of this year as opposed to the same period last year.

Based on police reports, Cebu City also has the biggest number of online scamming victims mostly through Facebook and messenger.

With this, a massive “Anti-Cybercrime Awareness Campaign” will be launched in the city accordingly.

Acting mayor Garcia has expressed full support on Fortaleza’s proposal on such a campaign.

“You know this is an emerging form of criminal activity. I am okay with that (awareness campaign) sa 80 ka mga barangay,” Garcia said. – /ATO (FREEMAN)