Philippines scam losses reach P121.8 billion as fraud shifts to messaging and e-wallets

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Philippines scam losses shift to e-wallets

Highlights

Filipino adults are projected to lose P121.8 billion to scams in 2025, with an average loss per victim of about P10,500 according to a Mastercard-backed survey.
Messaging platforms account for 88% of scam attempts, with SMS leading at 69%, instant messaging apps at 39%, and social media at 36%.
73% of scam victims now send funds via digital or e-wallets, up from 34% last year, while bank transfer usage drops to 12% from 36%.

Survey findings point to broad consumer losses

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, a survey by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Gogolook, and Mastercard estimates that Filipino adults lose P121.8 billion to scams in 2025, based on responses from 1,160 people. Of those surveyed, 165, or 15%, say they lose money to scams, a share the study extrapolates to about 11.68 million adults nationwide.

GASA Asia-Pacific Director Brian D. Hanley says the estimated annual loss is about P120 billion, with an average reported loss of roughly P10,500 per victim and a median loss of around P2,200. He says the estimate is extrapolated from survey data rather than a direct count, but still underscores the scale of financial harm to households.

The study says 84% of participants encounter a scam in 2025, up from 77% a year earlier. It also finds that 44% interact with scammers, while 15% lose money or data, and only 4% report the incident to authorities.

Messaging platforms and e-wallets drive scam activity

SMS and text messages remain the most common contact channel for scams in the Philippines at 69%, followed by instant messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram at 39%, and social media at 36%. The survey adds that 88% of scam attempts in the last 12 months occur on platforms with a direct message function, with Facebook and Gmail among the platforms where victims are most likely to encounter fraud.

The way victims transfer funds is also shifting further toward instant digital payments. The survey says 73% of Filipino victims send money through digital or e-wallets, up sharply from 34% a year earlier, while traditional bank or wire transfers fall to 12% from 36%.

Researchers say 88% of scam victims transfer money through immediate payment methods, including instant payment apps, gift cards, and digital wallets. The study recommends setting up a National Anti-Scam Hub as a central coordinating authority to receive reports, triage cases, assign action to relevant agencies, and monitor outcomes across government, financial institutions, telecommunications providers, platforms, and law enforcement.

Our earlier article covered the National Stock Exchange of India’s warning to investors about unauthorised schemes promoted via social media handles, apps and websites that promise “assured” or “guaranteed” returns. The exchange stressed that such operators are not registered or authorised, urged investors not to share trading credentials, and noted that those who participate may lose access to formal dispute resolution and investor protection mechanisms.

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