THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK: BCCRT PUSH ONLINE SAFETY AMID SURGE IN CYBERCRIME

May 25, 2025 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The Baguio City Cyber Response Team continues to receive a consistent number of cyber-related complaints daily, with online scams topping the list of concerns among residents. “Marami kaming natatanggap na complaints araw-araw… parang per day, May lima o sampu kada araw,” said PMAJ Annie Comising, the team leader of BCCRT. “ pero yung iba advice lang, yung iba for record purposes… So hindi
natin sya macacategorize as case kasi yung iba is gusto lang naman magpa-advice or kung yung iba naman nahack lang , gusto lang i-retrieve yung account.” Online scams remain the most prevalent form of cybercrime in the city. These range from fake online purchases to fraudulent investment offers, accommodation scams targeting tourists and students, and even task based work from home scams.

Another rising concern is cyber libel, often involving disputes among acquaintances who post defamatory content using either real or dummy accounts. There are also cases of online threats, and revenge pornography, though less common than online scams. The BCCRT emphasizes the importance of digital vigilance. “Ang pinakapunto natin is ano lang yung ‘Think before you click’ kasi it encapsulates lahat ng pwedeng gawin ng isang tao,” Said PMAJ Annie Comising. She also said that it was a case to case basis as to how people can prevent themselves from getting scammed, but it will always go back to ‘think before you click’.

Digital literacy remains strong among residents of Baguio City, the BCCRT noted that digital literacy is not the problem why people get
scammed, people are well aware of these online scams but sometimes greed gets to them which causes them to get scammed. For complaints, you can report directly to your local Cyber Response Team, where trained investigators can immediately assess and assist with your digital cases. If a Cyber Response Team is not readily accessible, complaints may also be filed at the nearest police station since according to the Section 6 of RA 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012: “All crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with the use of information and communication
technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this Act: provided, that the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be.”

Reporting cybercrimes has become easy, since citizens can opt to visit the nearest police station. PMAJ Annie Comising also advised,
“Huwag na huwag silang magdedelete”. They strongly advise that all forms of evidence such as screenshots, IDs, and receipts or anything that shows the exchange should be preserved and avoid alterations of these digital records to help ensure a thorough investigation.

Celeste/UC-Intern