The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is gearing up to combat the escalating wave of online scams, notably from the emergence of alleged “scam hubs,” which is continuously linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum addressing Christmas season online scams, Rojun Hosillos, director of the CICC, disclosed that these scam hubs, currently under CICC raids and monitoring, are seemingly well-equipped, fully staffed, and even proficient in deploying cutting-edge technology for cyber hacking and monitoring.
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Hosillos emphasized that their surveillance extends beyond foreign operators, revealing ongoing monitoring efforts directed at scam hubs run by Filipinos.
Highlighting the alarming growth of cybercrime, he described it as a sunrise industry for cybercriminals and online scammers, extracting hundreds of millions from unsuspecting victims.
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According to CICC data, a staggering $6 trillion was amassed by global cybercriminals and online fraud operators in 2021.
To tackle the rising threat, the CICC collaborates with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the private sector group Scam Watch Pilipinas.
via PhilStar