PNP, GCash sheds light on website safety
Leading mobile wallet shares tips on how to distinguish legitimate from fake websites
Websites have become essential in daily economic activities. We visit government websites to pay permits and contributions, e-commerce websites for purchases and entertainment websites for subscriptions, to name a few. Unfortunately, they have also become a favorite target of scammers, fraudsters, and cyber-criminals.
To help users protect themselves online, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the country’s leading mobile wallet GCash share vital information on how to distinguish legitimate websites from fake ones used by scammers.
“The most obvious is to check the URL of the website. A red flag is if the URL does not begin with “HTTPS”, where “S” at the end stands for secure. The “S” indicates that the site uses a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate, which helps protect your information. Another way this is shown on the latest version of web browsers is with the lock icon in the web browser’s address bar. This is the visual way to indicate that the website begins with “HTTPS,” advises PNP-ACG spokesperson Michelle Sabino.
GCash chief technology and operating officer Pebbles Sy cites another fundamental way to protect users. “Keep your web browser up-to-date all the time. The latest versions of web browsers often include sophisticated filters that warn you if a website is potentially unsafe. Also, consider using browser extensions specifically designed to identify unsafe elements on websites. These extensions can provide an additional layer of protection by flagging any suspicious or potentially harmful content. They can help you make informed decisions about whether to proceed with certain websites or not,” adds Sy.
The PNP-ACG and GCash also advise exercising caution against links sent via email or text messages. Another way to tell fake sites from real ones is if the website is suspiciously different from the home page of reputable websites. Malicious websites often try to imitate legitimate websites but have inconsistencies or poor-quality design.
“The best way is to trust your instincts and be skeptical if something doesn't feel right,” adds Sabino.
Reputable search engines can be used to see relevant discussions or warnings from other users against a website. This can provide valuable insights and help you make a more informed decision.
The PNP ACG has opened its hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116 or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph. The law enforcement agency encourages everyone to report incidents of scams, fraud, and cybercrime.
Users can also visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com or message Gigi on the website and type “I want to report a scam.” Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.
About Mynt
Mynt is the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines. It's a leader in mobile financial services focused on accelerating financial inclusion through mobile money, financial services, and technology. Mynt operates two fintech companies: GXI, the mobile wallet operator of GCash — the #1 Finance App in the Philippines, and Fuse Lending, a tech-based lending company that gives Filipinos access to microloans and business loans.
About GCash
GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash’s mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only duacorn in the Philippines.
Mynt and GCash are staunch supporters of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
For more information, please contact:
Bruce Rodriguez, Head of Business Communications
Corporate Communications
Legal Disclaimer & Safe Harbor Statement
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer, solicitation, or invitation to sell, issue, purchase, or subscribe for any securities in the Philippines, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. No securities of Mynt, Inc. have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. There will be no public offering of the securities of the Company in the United States. No money, securities or other consideration is being solicited by this document or the information contained herein and, if sent in response to this document or the information contained herein, will not be accepted. Any potential initial public offering and listing in the Philippines, if pursued, remain fully subject to prevailing market conditions and regulatory approvals, including the registration requirements of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc., and there can be no assurance that any such filings will be made or that any offering or listing will be consummated. This document contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties; actual results, timelines, and outcomes may differ materially from those projected due to shifting market dynamics, economic environments, and regulatory updates.
