More than half of Filipinos have been scammed, as new GSMA pilot boosts cross-sector mobile network intelligence sharing
November 13, 2025, Manila: Consumer concerns around online scams have reached significant levels in the Philippines and threaten digital trust, according to a new GSMA report released today at the Digital Nation Summit in Manila. To combat this, the mobile industry has outlined a number of new anti-scam initiatives.
More than half (52%) of Filipinos have been scammed at least once in their lives, seven points higher than the ASEAN average, according to new findings that are part of the mobile industry association's ongoing ASEAN consumer scam study. Eight percent of Filipino respondents have been victimized in the past twelve months, and reported scam exposure increased by six percent in the past year, an increase matched only by Thailand.
The new GSMA report, conducted by Armidale, also shows that two thirds (68%) of victims have lost money to scammers, with 11% describing the loss as large. The psychological impact has also been serious: almost half (45%) reported emotional stress and 28% spent a lot of time resolving incidents. More than 96% of respondents said they were worried about scams and hacking, and 58% said they were “very worried,” a seven-point increase year-over-year.
Social media is now the main channel for scammers looking to scam their victims in the Philippines, putting it ahead of text messages, OTT messaging apps and voice calls.
Julian Gorman, Asia-Pacific Director, GSMA, said: “The Philippines' digital economy depends on trust. Our latest evidence shows that trust is being eroded faster than it is rebuilt. Industry and government must move from isolated initiatives to a fully coordinated, data-driven defense if we are to protect consumers and sustain the country's digital growth story.”
Foundry Pilot to Improve Threat Intelligence Sharing Across Sectors
In response, the GSMA announced a new pilot at the Digital Nation Summit in Manila to help Philippine mobile operators collaborate and share threat intelligence more effectively with leading technology and financial sector partners. Working together through the GSMA APAC Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Task Force (ACAST) Anti-Scam Foundry Project, the pilot will use anonymised, regulator-approved data sets ranging from customer-reported fraud numbers to abnormal traffic patterns to test how telecoms intelligence can improve scam risk scoring for digital platforms. A controlled proof of concept is planned for early 2026.
GSMA Open Gateway Initiative Brings Silent Authentication to Market
Mobile operators in the Philippines have also launched a series of merchant services to combat scams and fraud, as part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. The three national operators PLDT/Smart, Globe and DITO have announced Open Gateway aligned services that silently verify subscriber identity and detect SIM swap attempts in real time:
Call for intersectoral action against scams
At the Digital Nation Summit in Manila, the GSMA urged banking, telecommunications, e-commerce and government stakeholders to:
- Standardize threat reporting and cyber hygiene practices, ensuring rapid, multi-channel removal of scam vectors.
- Leverage telecom data insights and Open Gateway APIs for real-time fraud detection.
- Expand public awareness and digital literacy campaigns aimed at vulnerable and high-risk groups.
- Align data protection and consumer rights frameworks to enable secure cross-border services envisaged in the upcoming ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026-2035.
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About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
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