NBI: Cybercrime attack doubled during community quarantine period

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has reported a doubling in the number of cybercrime cases after the country was placed under community quarantine. 

NBI Cybercrime Division Executive Officer Attorney Michelle Valdez said they received several complaints about phishing attacks that misled victims into giving out their bank and personal details.  

She added that they also received complaints regarding online shopping scams.  

“People have become vulnerable to cybercrimes because we are not allowed to go outside our homes because of the community quarantine, and we’ve ended up getting stuck on the internet, doing online transactions,” Valdez said in Filipino.

Aside from online scams, she said sexual exploitation of children has become rampant as well.

Valdez said the NBI has already teamed up with the anti-human trafficking division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to uncover the culprits.

They have also coordinated with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other remittance and financial institutions to protect the public against online scams.

Valdez urged the public to be vigilant against online transactions and take extra precautions before dealing with anybody on social media especially when it comes to banking transactions.

She said the public can report any illegal or suspicious online transaction to the NBI through its hotline.