PNP-ACG, GCash intensify cooperation to protect local communities, MSMEs from cyber fraud

The PNP ACG Team headed by PBGen Ronnie Francis Cariaga (second row, 8^th from left) with GCash chief legal officer Atty Maricor Alvarez-Adriano (second row, 7^th from left), VP and head for new businesses and public affairs Winsley Royce Bangit (second row, 5^th from left), chief security information officer Migs Geronilla (second row, 4^th from left), the GCash Fraud, Legal and Public Affairs teams

Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) acting director PBGen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga is calling for the government and the private sector to further improve cybercrime strategies down to the smallest sector of communities including micro, small, and medium enterprises.

A strategic meeting between key officials from PNP-ACG and the security leaders and officers of the leading finance app, GCash, was conducted at the W Global Center in Taguig City. The meeting focused on strengthening PNP’s long-standing collaboration with GCash to combat fraud and cybercrimes.

For one, the PNP-ACG recommended policies and ordinances aimed at strengthening the security of digital financial transactions in local communities including sari-sari stores.

“Our partnership with digital financial institutions like GCash has become a necessity now that almost all transactions are done digitally, to the point that even sari-sari stores can be paid via e-wallets. It is therefore our responsibility of the PNP as a law enforcement agency, and of course the LGUs, to make sure we are always updated, to help us foresee and prepare for anything that the cybercriminals will throw at us,” said Cariaga.

During the meeting, GCash chief information and security officer Miguel Geronilla emphasized the app’s best practices in cybersecurity and trust technology as key components of its digital financial services.

“A huge part of our pursuit in GCash is not only to strengthen security measures in the app but also make sure that cybercriminals are punished while constantly reminding the public on how to safeguard their e-wallet accounts,” said Geronilla.

As the largest digital ecosystem in the country, GCash ensures that it complies with the requirements of regulators by employing world-class security features that will protect users against scams.

“We continue to be an active partner of the government in going after cybercriminals and scammers to ensure Filipinos will have easy access to safe, secure, and convenient digital financial products and services,” said GCash chief legal Officer Atty. Maricor Alvarez-Adriano.

The continuous collaboration of GCash with the authorities has led to the successful deactivation of 5.6 million accounts found to be linked to suspicious activities and rejected 2.2 million account takeover attempts. With its partners, it has also taken down 1,900 phishing websites and taken down 51,800 malicious social media posts.

With trust and security at the core of its business, GCash together with its partners from the government, continues to harness innovations that are accessible, safe, and easy to understand for the masses, leading to an impactful change for millions of Filipinos.