CICC Issues Urgent Alert on Fraudulent eGov PH Impersonation Scam
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has issued a critical public warning regarding a sophisticated spoofing scheme targeting users of the eGov PH mobile application. In an urgent advisory released by the agency, citizens are cautioned about criminals who are impersonating government employees to carry out financial fraud.
Victim Loses P100,000 in Elaborate Biometric Scam
This alert follows a distressing report where a victim was defrauded of P100,000. According to the information provided, the scammer contacted the victim while pretending to be a government employee, claiming to need verification of National ID records. The perpetrator then instructed the victim to perform a face ID and biometric logging through a fraudulent interface that was provided.
This deceptive action allowed hackers to bypass security layers, access sensitive personal information, and ultimately drain the victim's bank accounts. The incident highlights the growing threat of social engineering attacks that exploit trust in official institutions.
Official Government Agencies Never Request Sensitive Credentials
CICC Undersecretary Renato 'Aboy' Paraiso emphasized that legitimate government agencies never ask for sensitive credentials such as one-time passwords, biometric data, or account passwords. He reiterated that these entities do not initiate unsolicited contact to request personal or financial information.
The CICC advises the public to remain vigilant and adopt the following precautions:
- Avoid answering calls or messages from unknown numbers, even if the caller claims to be a government employee.
- Never share OTPs, passwords, or biometric data with anyone, regardless of their alleged affiliation.
- Verify any suspicious communication directly through official government channels or websites.
- Report any attempted scams or fraudulent activities to the CICC immediately.
This warning serves as a crucial reminder for all citizens to exercise extreme caution when dealing with unsolicited communications, particularly those involving digital platforms like the eGov PH application. The rise in such schemes underscores the importance of cybersecurity awareness in protecting personal and financial assets from malicious actors.
