Less text scams after POGO ban, PNP says

The number of reported text scams has decreased after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared the ban against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), according to the data from the Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

In July, only two text scams were reported to the PNP-ACG.

This was lower compared to the 13 text scams reported in June, 20 in May, and seven in March. 

Last year, the PNP-ACG data showed 22 text scams were reported in January, nine in February, 24 in March, 21 in April, and 17 in May. 

The PNP-ACG noted that the data only includes text scams that were reported to their office and does not include reports from cybercrime desks at police stations.

Marcos banned all POGOs in the country after a series of raids against these establishments where authorities discovered equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes.

In his third State of the Nation Address in July, Marcos pointed out that POGOs became involved in scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system and laws must stop. Kailangan na itigil ang panggugulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglapastangan sa ating bansa,” Marcos said.

(We need to end this scourge on our society and abuse in our country.)

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease all operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” he added.

On Tuesday, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said there has been a significant drop in the number of text scams after the POGO ban.

“Magmula po noong bi-nan ng Presidente, ang laki ng binagsak po ng mga nare-receive nating text scams,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said in Joseph Morong’s Tuesday report on 24 Oras.

(Since the President ordered the banning of POGOs, we have observed a significant decrease in text scams.)

Since the banning of POGOs, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the number of consumer complaints has dropped.

“Tahimik ‘yung mga phones natin for scam na promos, iba’t ibang uri ng promos,” DICT spokesperson Aboy Paraiso said.

(Our phones received noticeably less promo scams and other kinds of promos.)

Thousands of SIM cards were seized during PAOCC’s POGO raids, including the raided POGO in Las Piñas. —VAL, GMA Integrated News