Things Filipino Parents Can Do To Protect Themselves From Scams
Here’s what parents can do to protect themselves from scams
Scams come in all forms. Whether it’s a lotto text or some unknown number calling, Filipinos are no strangers to scams. Why do many still fall for it? Well, it’s because some are so convincing. Lotto ones, especially when the jackpot hits six-digits, can feel like a ticket out to a better life.
Here are some things parents can do to protect themselves from scams.
If it has a link, DO NOT CLICK IT.
Text messages never come with links. The moment there’s a link, it’s an MMS or a multimedia message. No matter how official it looks, don’t open it. Banks never text. Neither do government offices. All things involving money or private information never go through text messages.
That’s the first sign it’s a scam.
When answering a strange number’s call, don’t answer right away.
Some of us get strange calls. While some phones can identify if the number is spam or not, some still break through. Should we choose to answer it, never speak first. Let the caller speak first to assure they’re actually human.
Even then, they have weird telltale signs. Saying the whole name, having a particular rhythm and tone that sounds too practiced—those are telltale signs.
OTPs don’t trigger unless you prompt them
No matter what, if you get an OTP out of nowhere, that’s definitely a scam.
Why Do People Resort To Scams
Everyone wants to make money nowadays. We don’t know who these scammers are, really. Some may be desperate parents. Others are just people who relish the thrill of messing people up.
The Philippines is prone to scams because of how fast our telecommunications industry has grown. Kids as young as nine years old suddenly had cellphones. Today, kids as young as three years old have a tablet. And as parents, whenever we deal with things like these—always remember to adopt the Zero Trust Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common one in the Philippines is the text message. However, some have resorted to using phone calls and e-mails.
It’s easy money for them. If they can’t find a job or are in desperate need of money, scamming is one way they go.
It depends, but yes—with the right tools and knowledge, it’s possible.
Teach them to never respond to a text message they themselves never prompted or triggered. Also, if they’re not sure, tell them it’s best to ask you.
Truthfully, they’re everywhere. But the Philippines, due to its call center culture, is more susceptible to unintentionally housing scammers.
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