PNP, TikTok link up vs online scams

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and TikTok have beefed up efforts against online scams and sexual exploitation.

Officials of the ACG and the short-form video hosting service held a collaborative meeting at Camp Crame yesterday, wherein they mapped out strategies to combat emerging threats on the social media platform.

ACG officer-in-charge Col. Rommel Batangan said TikTok is not exempted from being used as a tool by scammers and other cyber criminals, being one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world.

“This collaboration with TikTok will significantly enhance and expedite our cybercrime investigation efforts, reinforcing our commitment to creating a safer and more secure cyberspace for everyone,“ he said in a statement.

In response, TikTok expressed commitment to support the ACG by offering training sessions for its investigators.

On Dec. 18, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and TikTok held a collaborative meeting at the ACG Conference Room, located in the ACG Building, Camp Crame, Quezon City.

ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said TikTok has received about 108 complaints from users, mostly scamming activities.

Arancillo said social media users are using TikTok to sell products online, which in turn have been targeted by cyber criminals.

She said there were cases wherein victims receive substandard products instead of the items they bought.

“There are also instances where already paid for items are not delivered,” Arancillo told reporters in an interview.

Apart from scams, Arancilo said there were also sexual exploitation materials posted on TikTok.