NCSC Joins Rappler’s #ScamAlert Roadshow to empower Seniors Against Online Scams

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has partnered with Rappler for its #ScamAlert roadshow, a nationwide campaign on digital safety and scam resilience, to equip Filipino senior citizens with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves against online fraud. This forum and workshops held at Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila embodies a whole-of-nation approach to digital safety—where government, media, academe, and citizens work hand in hand to ensure that Filipino senior citizens are safeguarded from online scams.

NCSC Chairperson and CEO Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, as represented by Information Management and ICT Division Head Loraine Cerillo Valdevieso, underscored the importance of fostering intergenerational collaboration in building a safer digital environment. She encouraged the youth to take an active role as advocates for senior citizens both within their households and in the wider community.

During the panel discussion, Ms. Cerillo Valdevieso reiterated the NCSC’s warning against persistent false information circulating online, particularly claims of a supposed ₱1,000 monthly or ₱3,000 quarterly pension for all senior citizens through online registration. The NCSC strongly advises the public to report unverified information, especially contents that could cause confusion and false expectations among senior citizens and their families.

Among the participants was Ariel, a 66-year-old retired bank officer who admittedly struggles with navigating his mobile phone. To stay safe, he has developed the habit of immediately deleting any text messages with suspecious links to avoid the risks of accidentally clicking on possible fraud contents. Meanwhile, Tita Baby, OSCA Head of Valenzuela City, also recounted helping a fellow senior who had been tricked by a fake lending scheme that promised a larger loan in exchange for an upfront deposit.

According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Filipino seniors—who are becoming increasingly active online—remain highly vulnerable to phishing and smishing, investment and “budol” scams, romance scams, as well as fraudulent lottery and health product schemes.

To address this, the afternoon session of the #ScamAlert Roadshow gathered over 150 participants, including senior citizens and FEU students, for back-to-back workshops led by CICC and Rappler. The sessions covered cybercrime prevention, scam detection, digital well-being, and fact-checking 101. These hands-on sessions are designed to equip participants with practical skills, encourage critical thinking about the content they consume online, and strengthen vigilance against scams.

The NCSC echoes CICC’s call to report online scams through the Inter-Agency Response Center Hotline 1326 or by sending them an e-mail via report@cicc.gov.ph.■