The COVID-19 pandemic has increased every family member's dependence on digital technology for work, shopping, investments, education, and entertainment.
Unfortunately, the rapid growth of digital technology also gave rise to online scams. A recent Kaspersky survey among over a thousand Southeast Asian respondents reveals that only 38% feel safer using digital payments over physical transactions.
The same survey shows that most Filipinos experiencce threats related to digital payments. In fact, 42% encounter scams via text or calls like the most recent smishing scam.
On the side of education and entertainment, children's increased screen time for school and play exposes them to more than just malicious content but online predators as well.
While authorities remind us time and again to be vigilant with our online activities, fraudsters are becoming more and more creative with their tactics.
Here are three concrete ways to keep your family informed and secure from online scams:
1. Practice cyber hygiene.
Get ahead of scammers by being informed. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) encourages the public to keep in mind the following practices before engaging in any online transaction.
• Stop. Think. Be skeptical. Do not be pressured into making hasty decisions and check things out before you buy or sign anything right away.
• Do not click on web links embedded in emails or pop-ups on unfamiliar websites. Instead, type the URL (e.g. www.pinoycompany.com) or the company requesting the information.
• Avoid disclosing personal or account details via phone unless you are certain that the caller is legit. You can always ask for the name and employee number of the person on the other line, then call the company so you can verify if the call is legitimate.
• Never respond to scam emails requesting personal information and delete suspicious emails or email attachments without opening them, even if they seem to have originated from someone you know. Notify the sending company if you receive a suspicious email.
You can download the complete BSP brochure on protecting yourself from scam and fraud.
2. Use antivirus software on all your devices.
One of the antivirus software available today is Kaspersky Total Security (KTS), which offers a package that includes shopping and banking protection, alerts, and online content censorship.
It has a safe shopping and banking feature for parents which checks if a website is fake or not and protects payment and card details from scammers. It also has a family security feature which sends alerts if scammers hijack your webcams. It can lock, locate, and wipe missing Android mobile phones.
There are other apps and products that keep kids safe online by blocking porn and harmful sites, managing screen time and app use, monitoring YouTube searches, and even helping you locate your child 24/7.
3. Educate your children on how to protect themselves online.
As parents, vigilance should start at home.
"More than just monitoring kids' devices and managing their screen time, it is equally important to educate children on how to protect themselves," said Globe Chief Privacy Officer Irish Salandanan-Almeida in a webinar last February 8.
She highlighted how Globe is prepared to support parents in this endeavor with their children's activity book entitled "Safe Space: A Kid's Guidebook to Data Privacy" available on the Globe e-Library.
The activity book uses colorful illustrations and games to teach children about the good and bad sides of the internet, as well as how to create super-duper secure passwords.
The material was developed as part of Globe's partnership with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) on the Kabataang Digital Program.
What to do if you get scammed
Report investment scams, cybercrime, and other criminal abuses to:
NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
NBI Building, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Anti-Fraud and Action Division
Email: afad@nbi.gov.ph
Telephone: (02) 8523 8231 to 38 local 3529 or 3456
Cyber Crime Division
Email: ccd@nbi.gov.ph
Telephone: (02) 8523 8231 to 38 local 3455; (02) 8252-6228
Complaint and Recording Division
Telephone: (02) 8523-8231 to 38 local 3518
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
Anti- Cybercrime Group
PNP National Headquarters Camp General Crame, EDSA, Quezon City
Email: acg@pnp.gov.ph
Telephone: (02) 3414 1560 Mobile: 0998 598 8116
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