Don’t take the bait: how to avoid getting phished and other kinds of digital fraud

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




With the prevalence of digital fraud in the Philippines, simple proactive measures can help keep you and your financial information safe

As more transactions are made without the use of cash, the use of credit cards continues to climb[1]. However, the increase in credit card usage also comes with an increase in credit card scams and other forms of digital fraud that look to prey on unsuspecting members of the population.

Digital Fraud in The Philippines

In a consumer survey commissioned by global credit agency TransUnion last year, findings from the Philippines showed that 71% of respondents were targeted by digital fraud attempts via email, phone calls, text messaging and other online channels within a three-month period beginning from September 2022. Among those targeted, 11% of respondents fell victim to some form of digital fraud within the same timeframe.

While the local financial sector is collectively beefing up measures against cybercriminals[2], the methods in which fraudsters aim to scam victims are also growing more sophisticated in style and scale. As the digital fraud rate in the country still stands at a level higher than the global average[3], here are practical ways to help protect yourself or your business from falling victim to digital fraud.

 

Guard your online information

Avoid entering financial information on public computers or when using public wi-fi. These computers could contain software that captures passwords or other details upon entry. When browsing the internet, look for an “https:” at the start of a web link especially when banking or ordering things online.

Monitor your accounts

It is recommended to regularly monitor your financial accounts to keep an eye on your balances and your account activity. As most banks and financial institutions now offer personal banking apps for added convenience, some apps have transaction alerts to update users of any transactions made. The use of such features can help ensure that any unauthorized transactions are quickly caught.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication is a means of online identity verification that requires users to show multiple means to verify one’s identity when logging into a website or using a service. These factors can be something you know (your password), something you have (a verification code sent to your mobile number), or something inherent to you such as your face or your fingerprint. Having multi-factor authentication activated can help keep fraudsters from successfully carrying out some attacks.

Think twice about sharing information

As phishing scams are usually carried out through email, be cautious of emails that request information. One way to prevent falling victim to phishing scams is to check the content of the email. Was it sent from a public email domain? Is the domain name or message misspelled? Is it poorly written? These are telltale signs of phishing. Being able to identify these signs is a big help in keeping you and your financials safe.

Check your credit report

Credit reports contain information about your credit history. They also help you understand and improve your credit status. To catch any potentially fraudulent activity from going under your radar, review your credit report for any suspicious details such as accounts you did not open. You can request for a credit report from TransUnion Philippines here.

Implement fraud detection tools

For business owners, having fraud detection tools at your disposal can help you catch fraud before it affects your bottom line. Aside from credit reports, TransUnion Philippines also offers TruValidate™ - a host of solutions that work by using data and analytics to stop fraud as it happens. Solutions include identity proofing to validate consumers with confidence, risk-based authentication to verify consumers with ease, and fraud prevention to identify risky transactions and fraudulent devices in real-time.

Report suspicious activity

If you think you may have fallen victim of any form of financial fraud, contact your bank as soon as possible. The sooner your bank is made aware of what has transpired, the better your chances of your hard-earned funds being recovered.



About TransUnion Philippines (NYSE:TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing an actionable picture of each person so they can be reliably represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good®. TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people in more than 30 countries.

In the Philippines, we were the first comprehensive private credit reference agency (CRA) and we have helped Filipinos to better understand and manage their personal finances for more than a decade. We serve a range of clients across multiple sectors, including international, national and rural financial services providers, telecommunications, utilities, FinTech and retail organizations.



[1] Philippines: card payment transaction value 2022 | Statista


[2] https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Media_And_Research/Primers%20Faqs/Digital%20Payments%20Transformation%20Roadmap%20Report.pdf


[3] https://newsroom.transunion.ph/transunion-report-finds-digital-fraud-attempts-fall-18-in-the-philippines-but-rise-80-globally-from-pre-pandemic-levels/

United Nations Acclaimed Scientist is PAL’s new Chief Resiliency and Sustainability Officer

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Sci. Dpl. Glenn S. Banaguas, a globally recognized scientist and science diplomat, has been appointed as the new Chief Resiliency and Sustainability Officer of Philippine Airlines (PAL), the official flag carrier of the Philippines. Capt. Stanley Ng, President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Airlines, expressed his excitement over the acquisition of Sci. Dpl. Banaguas, acknowledging his immense expertise and the valuable contributions he would bring to PAL.

"PAL is extremely blessed to have multi-awarded climate and disaster scientist, Sci. Dpl. Glenn Banaguas, finally on board, as the nation's flag carrier is at the crossroads of a transformative shift of direction of integrating the PAL Carbon Footprint Calculator and implementing the Environmental and Energy Management Systems, both pioneering initiatives ever implemented in the country under our R.I.S.E. program. He will be a tremendous asset to our company," the President Ng recently remarked.

Sci. Dpl. Banaguas joins Philippine Airlines at a critical juncture as the airline is launching its ambitious "R.I.S.E. Philippine Airlines" program. The program's strategic thrust encompasses resiliency, inclusivity, sustainability, and enculturability, aimed at transforming the airline's direction and operations. Within this framework, the integration of the PAL Carbon Footprint Calculator, the implementation of the Environmental and Energy Management Systems, and other resilient, sustainable, and gender transformative projects are groundbreaking efforts in the region.

His impressive accolades and achievements in the field of environment, climate change, and disaster risks make him the ideal candidate to spearhead PAL's resiliency and sustainability endeavors. He is not only a multi- awarded scientist but also an educator and science diplomat dedicated to finding science-based policy solutions to environmental challenges. He is the first and only Filipino individual recipient of the prestigious United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Laureate for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field. He is the first Filipino who was awarded by the US Department of State for science and technology in the field of climate change and sustainable energy under the US-ASEAN Science and Technology Fellowship program. And he is also the first Filipino who was featured by “The Big Idea”, a US Mission to ASEAN platform that features people who have made significant contributions in South East Asia.

He has received numerous other international fellowships and awards, which include the Distinguished Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts in the United Kingdom; an Executive Fellow of the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Switzerland; a Lee Kuan Yew Senior Fellow in Public Service in Singapore; Asia Leader Award for Sustainability Leadership; and recently he was awarded as one of the Top 100 Asian Scientists for 2023 by the Singapore-based magazine. He was a grantee of the Solar Radiation Management Initiative, The Royal Society, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). He is part of the team that won The Rockefeller Foundation Food System Vision Prize - Special Mention Award. One of his research advocacy works was featured as one of the top 10 projects in “Gender Equality in Water Governance” in the world conferred by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) in Stockholm, Sweden. He was also featured by “About Resilience”, an international platform managed by Panta Ray from Milan, Italy that presents the outstanding contributions of individuals in the world. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award for Environmental Management conferred by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Laureate in Environment Conservation and Science Diplomacy, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of the Philippines."

Sci. Dpl. Banaguas has also served as a consultant and adviser for various United Nations agencies, government bodies, and development institutions, working on projects related to climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and environmental management. He is also the advisor of the private sector in the areas of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), Net Zero Emissions (NZE) and Low Carbon Diet Programs and sustainability projects. He is the Climate Diplomat of the European Union (EU)-Asia Expert Panel for climate diplomacy and environmental security; the Chairman of the Asian Science Diplomats; the Chairman of the US – ASEAN Science and Technology Fellows, and also the Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Statweather Institute, the humanitarian arm of Statweather, which has garnered the achievement of the #1 Climate Technology in the world by Environmental Business International (2018) and has also received distinction as the #1 Data Services Company in the world by Energy Risk.

Furthermore, he has been recognized for his efforts in community empowerment, humanitarian activities, and peacebuilding initiatives. He has founded the Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute (ECCRI), which brings cutting-edge research to marginalized communities in the Philippines, addressing climate change and disaster risks. His expertise in accessing multilateral funds and developing science and evidence-based projects will greatly benefit Philippine Airlines in its pursuit of resilient and sustainable practices.

Sci. Dpl. Banaguas studied Climate Change and Energy at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University and Sustainability Leadership from the Center of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University. He took Applied Remote Sensing Technology from the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA). He also took Conflict Sensitivity, Religious Engagement in Peacebuilding, and Peace Mediation from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and also studied Geopolitics and Global Futures, Movement of People and Security, Environment and Security, and Critical Incident Management from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). He took Chemical Engineering from the Mapua University and Environmental Management from the Ateneo De Manila University.

The globally-renowned science diplomat’s vast experience, combined with his passion for sustainability, will be instrumental in guiding PAL towards a more resilient and environmentally responsible future. As Chief Resiliency and Sustainability Officer, he will oversee the assessment and reduction of the airline's carbon footprint and the execution of a net-zero emission roadmap by 2050, specifically tailored for the aviation industry.

Under his leadership, PAL aims to strengthen its organizational capacity to adapt to change, foster stakeholder engagement, promote gender-transformative and nature-based solutions and enhance awareness and stakeholder empowerment. His role will be crucial in integrating scientific and innovative approaches into PAL's operations, ensuring the airline's commitment to resiliency, inclusivity, sustainability, and enculturability.

Sci. Dpl. Banaguas's appointment marks a significant milestone for Philippine Airlines and reinforces its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. With his expertise and visionary leadership, PAL is well-positioned to become a regional leader in the aviation industry's sustainable transformation, contributing to the global fight against climate change and promoting a more resilient and environmentally conscious future.

SONA 2023: PBBM shares renewed hope for basic education in DepEd’s MATATAG Agenda

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Reiterating his hope to give the best for the Filipino youth, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday mentioned key initiatives under the MATATAG Agenda of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and the Department of Education (DepEd) in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City.

“The MATATAG Agenda for basic education has been launched, focusing on relevance of curriculum, rapid and responsive delivery, and the welfare of both learners and teachers,” President Marcos Jr. said.

“Ang ating butihing Bise-Presidente, na Kalihim din ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, ay tumutulong upang tiyakin na ang bawat batang Pilipino ay mabibigyan ng nararapat at kalidad na edukasyon. We have renewed hope in giving the best to our next batches of students, especially the 28.4 million learners who returned to school this year,” he added.

Citing education as foundation of a strong nation, President Marcos mentioned that learning recovery will be at the forefront of the administration’s education agenda, with the help of VP and Secretary Duterte, to ensure that every Filipino child will receive proper and quality education.

VP Duterte thanked the PBBM for his unwavering commitment in the education sector.

“His unremitting support of the reforms introduced by the Department of Education to the education system through the MATATAG Agenda will benefit not only our learners but also the teaching and non-teaching staff of the department,” the Vice President said in a statement.

The country's Chief Executive likewise noted that the government continues to exhaust all efforts to ensure the availability of formal education, alternative learning, non-diploma courses, and technical-vocational education and training to guarantee the betterment of the life of young Filipinos.

In addition, President Marcos emphasized that the DepEd’s K to 10 Curriculum has been recalibrated to ensure its relevance and responsiveness to international standards. The new K to 10 curriculum is set for launch in August, while the Senior High School curriculum is still under review.

PBBM also highlighted the Department’s move to fill up newly created teaching positions and hire additional administrative personnel to augment the school workforce and unburden the teachers of extra administrative tasks.

Furthermore, the President shared that schools facilities are being retrofitted for hybrid and high-tech learning, as well as climate-ready and disaster-proof. He also noted the significance of the DepEd Partnership Assistance Portal, where private sector partners can continue their assistance in the rehabilitation and improvement of schools.