How to spot a scam: the complete guide for Filipinos
Scams change constantly, but the warning signs almost never do. Learn the pattern behind every scam — and the 30-second check that stops most of them before you pay.
From fake delivery texts to “too good to be true” investments, online scams cost Filipinos billions every year. This guide teaches you the handful of signs behind almost every scam, the red flags to watch for in messages, sellers, and calls, and a simple check you can run in seconds before you send money.
- Why scams are so hard to spot
- The 5 signs every scam shares
- Red flags in messages and texts
- Red flags when buying and selling online
- Red flags in calls and “support” agents
- Too-good-to-be-true: investments, jobs, and prizes
- The 30-second check that stops most scams
- How to check a suspicious message for free
- If you think you’ve already been scammed
- The one habit that protects you
Why scams are so hard to spot
Scams do not work because people are careless. They work because they are engineered to switch off the exact part of your brain that would normally say “wait a second.” A good scam feels urgent, feels personal, and gives you a reason you can’t verify right now — all at the same time.
That is why smart, careful people still get scammed. It is not about intelligence; it is about the moment. In the few seconds between “this seems fine” and “sige, I’ll send it na,” a scammer only has to sound believable once.
The good news: you do not need to memorise every scam to stay safe. Almost every scam — text, call, marketplace deal, investment, romance, or job offer — is built from the same small set of parts. Learn to recognise the parts, and you can spot a brand-new scam you have never seen before.
You will never keep up by memorising individual scams — new ones appear every week. Learn the pattern instead. The pattern barely changes.
The 5 signs every scam shares
If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember these five. Almost every scam has at least two or three of them at once. The more you see, the more certain you should be that something is wrong.
1. Urgency. “Now na,” “last stock,” “account will be suspended,” “offer expires today.” Real businesses and real agencies can wait a few minutes while you check. Scammers cannot — because checking is exactly what kills the scam.
2. A reason you can’t verify. They move you off the platform, refuse a call or a meet-up, block video, or invent a story for why the usual proof isn’t available. If you can’t verify it, that is the point.
3. An unusual way to pay. Direct GCash/Maya to a personal name, crypto, gift cards, load, or a “fee” before you receive anything. Legitimate sellers and employers rarely need money up front through untraceable channels.
4. Something that is too good — or too scary. Guaranteed high returns, a prize you never joined, a parcel you never ordered, or a threat that your account/SIM/case is in trouble. Both extremes exist to rush your emotions.
5. A request for a secret. Your OTP, MPIN, password, or a code “to verify.” No real bank, e-wallet, courier, or agency will ever ask you to hand these over. Ever.
Two or more of these signs in the same message? Treat it as a scam until you have independently proven otherwise.
Red flags in messages and texts
Most scams reach you as an SMS, email, or chat message. Slow down and look for these before you tap anything.
“BDO: Your account has been temporarily locked. Verify now to avoid permanent suspension: bdo-secure-verify.com”
- A link that isn’t the official app or website (misspelled or extra words, e.g. “gcash-verify-account.com”)
- A sender that’s a random 09xx number, not an official sender ID
- Pressure and deadlines (“within 24 hours,” “or your account is closed”)
- A small fee to “release,” “verify,” or “claim” something
- Any request for your OTP, PIN, password, or card details
- Spelling and grammar that’s slightly off, or a greeting that isn’t your real name
- Never tap the link — open the official app or type the real website yourself
- Assume any message that asks for a code or a fee is a scam
- When in doubt, paste the link or number into TsekMuna before you act
Red flags when buying and selling online
Marketplaces and selling groups are where the most Filipinos lose money — usually to an off-platform payment and a bit of borrowed trust.
- Seller wants payment outside the platform’s protected checkout
- Price is suspiciously low, or stock is “almost gone”
- Refuses cash-on-delivery (COD) or a public meet-up
- Brand-new account, or reviews that look copied or all posted recently
- The GCash/Maya account name doesn’t match the seller
- A “buyer” who overpays and asks you to refund the difference
- Prefer COD or a meet-up in a safe public place
- Ask for a live video of the actual item, not stock photos
- Confirm the recipient name on your payment screen matches the seller
- Run the seller’s number or the listing link through TsekMuna first
Red flags in calls and “support” agents
A scammer on the phone sounds calm, official, and often already knows a detail about you (your name, a recent order). That familiarity is designed to make you trust them.
- They called you — real bank/e-wallet support almost never cold-calls to “fix” your account
- They ask you to read out an OTP or code “to confirm it’s you”
- They tell you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or a “helper” app
- They pressure you to act while still on the line, without hanging up
- Hang up. Call the official number on your card or in the real app instead
- Never share an OTP or PIN — not even with someone who “sounds like” staff
- Never install remote-access apps to “fix” a payment problem
Too-good-to-be-true: investments, jobs, and prizes
The other half of scams don’t threaten you — they tempt you. Guaranteed returns, easy income, or a prize are bait to get an upfront “fee” or your details.
- “Guaranteed,” “risk-free,” or “double your money” returns
- A job or loan that requires a processing, training, or “release” fee first
- A prize or promo you never actually joined
- Pressure to recruit friends and family to get paid
- You must pay a fee to “unlock” or withdraw your own payout
- Treat any guaranteed return as a scam — no real investment guarantees profit
- Legitimate employers and lenders never charge you to get hired or approved
- Check if an investment company is actually SEC-registered before sending anything
The 30-second check that stops most scams
You don’t need to be an expert. Before you send money, click a link, or share a code, run this quick check on any message, seller, or offer.
- 1Pause. If you feel rushed, that feeling is the scam working — give yourself 30 seconds.
- 2Ask “can I verify this independently?” Open the official app or call the number on your card — never the one in the message.
- 3Check who you’re actually paying. The recipient name must match the real seller or business.
- 4Never share an OTP, PIN, or password, and never pay a fee to receive something.
- 5Still unsure? Paste the number, link, seller, or screenshot into TsekMuna for a free risk check before you pay.
Scammers rely on speed. Almost every scam falls apart the moment you slow down and verify through an official channel.
How to check a suspicious message for free
When a message, seller, or link doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to guess. TsekMuna was built for exactly this moment — the few seconds before you pay.
Paste a suspicious link, enter a seller’s number, or upload a screenshot of the chat, and TsekMuna gives you a plain-language risk assessment: what looks off, why, and what to do next. It also checks against scams other Filipinos have already reported, so you benefit from the whole community’s experience.
It’s free to run a check, you don’t need an account to try it, and results are advisory — they help you decide, and you always verify before sending money. “Tsek muna bago bayad” — check first, before you pay.
- Check a link before you tap it
- Check a seller’s number before you send a deposit
- Upload a screenshot of a suspicious chat or “support” message
- Warn others by reporting a scam you’ve encountered
If you think you’ve already been scammed
Acting fast gives the best chance of a freeze or recovery. Don’t freeze up, and don’t send “one more fee” — that’s the scam continuing.
- 1Stop all further payments immediately — there is no fee that “releases” your money back.
- 2Report to your e-wallet or bank right away: GCash Help Center, Maya “Report a problem,” or your bank hotline. Speed matters most here.
- 3If you shared an OTP or password, change your MPIN and email password now, and enable login alerts.
- 4Capture evidence: the chat, the listing, the payment receipt, and the recipient’s number or name.
- 5File a report with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or the NBI Cybercrime Division for significant losses.
- 6Submit a TsekMuna community report so the next person is warned before they pay.
Report to your bank or e-wallet within minutes, not hours — that window is when a freeze is most likely to work.
The one habit that protects you
You can’t predict every scam, but you can build one habit that beats almost all of them: verify before you pay. Different stories, same playbook — urgency, an off-platform payment, and a reason you “can’t” check right now. Spot even one, and stop.
- Slow down whenever you feel rushed to send money
- Verify people and businesses on an official channel, not the one they gave you
- Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords with anyone
- Run the number, link, seller, or screenshot through TsekMuna when in doubt
- When you’re not sure — don’t pay yet
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a text message is a scam?
Look for a link that isn’t the official website, a sense of urgency or a deadline, a small “fee” to release or verify something, or any request for your OTP, PIN, or password. Genuine banks, e-wallets, and couriers never ask for these through an SMS link. When unsure, don’t tap the link — open the official app yourself, or paste the message into TsekMuna for a free risk check first.
What are the most common scams in the Philippines?
The most common are marketplace and reservation-fee scams, fake delivery or “held parcel” texts, phishing links pretending to be GCash, Maya, or your bank, OTP and account-takeover scams, investment or “double your money” schemes, job and loan processing-fee scams, and romance or impersonation scams. Almost all of them rely on urgency, an off-platform payment, and a reason you can’t verify right now.
Is it safe to pay a seller through GCash or Maya?
It can be, but only after you verify. Before you send, check that the recipient name on the payment screen matches the real seller, prefer cash-on-delivery or a public meet-up for marketplace deals, and never pay a “reservation fee” to an account you can’t verify. If anything feels off, run the seller’s number through TsekMuna before you send money.
Should I ever share an OTP or PIN to verify my account?
No. An OTP, MPIN, or password is a secret meant only for you. No legitimate bank, e-wallet, courier, government agency, or “support agent” will ever ask you to share it — anyone who does is a scammer, even if they sound official or already know your name.
How do I check if a link or seller is a scam?
Paste the suspicious link, enter the seller’s number, or upload a screenshot of the chat into TsekMuna. You’ll get a plain-language risk assessment explaining what looks suspicious and what to do next, plus a check against scams other Filipinos have already reported. It’s free, needs no account to try, and is advisory — always verify independently before you pay.
What should I do if I’ve already sent money to a scammer?
Act fast. Stop any further payments, then report to your e-wallet or bank immediately (GCash Help Center, Maya “Report a problem,” or your bank hotline) and ask them to freeze or investigate. If you shared an OTP or password, change your PIN and email password now. Keep screenshots as evidence, report larger losses to the PNP-ACG or NBI Cybercrime Division, and file a TsekMuna community report to warn others.