#GSafeTayo: Stay Secure, Safe And Scam-Free During The Holidays – A Reminder From GCash

As holiday shopping surges nationwide, the country’s leading finance super app GCash encourages Filipinos to enjoy the season with peace of mind. Through its #GSafeTayo campaign, GCash is reminding users to take simple precautions to keep transactions safe and secure, so our celebrations remain merry, not messy.

“Christmas shopping should be joyful and worry-free. GCash is closely working with our partners from DICT in reinforcing its Oplan Paskong Sigurado campaign,” said Miguel Geronilla, Chief Security Information Officer at GCash.

“Beyond a campaign, it’s a unified call to action against cybercrimes. The message is clear — Mag-Ingat, Mag-Report, Mag-Diwang during the holidays. We encourage everyone to stay alert, promptly report suspicious activities, maximize free or affordable available protective features, and transact only through trusted channels,” he added.

Safeguarding digital transactions during the holidays

This reminder comes as GCash relentlessly and aggressively aims to continue protecting the hard-earned money of millions of Filipinos. From January to November 2025, more than 13,000 malicious posts were taken down, 14,000 fake social media accounts were removed, and over 300 phishing links were blocked.

In the same period, more than 466 million hacking attempts and 130,000 account hackers were stopped immediately. These efforts show how protection is continuously working behind the scenes, giving users greater confidence as they shop and celebrate.

During the holiday season, DICT and law enforcement groups call the public to stay vigilant against scams, including fake sellers, phishing messages with links designed to steal login credentials, video calls impersonating official company representatives, and smishing texts requesting personal information or one-time passwords.

Strengthening reporting and response mechanisms

DICT asks Filipinos to report suspicious activity via the 1326 hotline, which provides multi-channel reporting through calls, online forms, and messaging apps. The DICT hotline also offers follow-up feedback on cases to the complainant, and links reports to a centralized government database for faster action, or through the eGovPH mobile application using its eReport feature for convenient digital submissions.

Supporting these efforts, GCash also reminds users to verify sellers, review feedback, avoid sharing sensitive information outside official channels, and always transact through the official GCash app or verified GCash channels.

GCash urges users to download the GCash app only from official platforms, including Google Play Store for Android devices, Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad, and Huawei AppGallery for Huawei devices. Users are advised to avoid downloading the app from third-party sites, APK links, or messages via SMS or email, which may contain malware. The developer should be listed as Mynt – Globe Fintech Innovations, and users can also visit gcash.com for direct app links.

Further, GCash also reminds users that it will never ask for MPINs, OTPs, or personal details and will not send links via SMS, email, or chat apps. Sharing this information can give scammers access to accounts. Additionally, renting, lending, or allowing others to use your personal GCash account is illegal under RA 12010 Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), and may expose users to criminal liability, including involvement in money muling and other fraudulent activities.

These consumer-education efforts are reinforced by the collaboration of GCash with government agencies, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC). Together, these institutions coordinate to strengthen cybercrime monitoring, raise public awareness, and respond swiftly to suspicious activity.

Providing additional safeguards for online purchases

To further support users, GCash offers Online Shopping Protect, which can be added when paying through GCash Pay Online. For a small premium, it provides coverage of up to ₱20,000 for purchases that are not delivered, arrive defective, differ from what was described, are stolen, or are damaged in transit. This option gives shoppers added assurance that their money is safeguarded if something goes wrong with an online order.

Users who encounter unusual or suspicious transactions are encouraged to report concerns through the GCash Help Center or the in‑app assistance tool. GCash reminds everyone that it does not send unsolicited messages to resolve account issues.

With stronger awareness, tighter surveillance, and a unified response from both the private and public sectors, GCash believes Filipinos can fully enjoy the season — merry and worry‑free.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.