Credit Card Fraud in the Philippines: How to Stay Safe

According to the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP), there has been a 21% surge in cases of credit card fraud as of January 2022.^[1] With the season of holiday shopping fast approaching, that number will surely increase.

Clearly, cybersecurity in the country needs further strengthening. Nevertheless, it’s also your duty to stay vigilant and protect yourself from scammers.

To keep fraudsters at bay, you can take a number of precautions, perhaps the most important of which is arming yourself with knowledge on the safe use of your credit card. Read our comprehensive guide so you won’t be a victim of credit card fraud in the Philippines.

What is Credit Card Fraud?

Credit card fraud happens when a fraudster uses your credit card (or debit card) to make purchases or get cash. Technically, it’s a form of identity theft since criminals use your personal information and credentials to initiate transactions.

Examples of Credit Card Fraud in the Philippines

Banks and credit card networks come up with new features to prevent unauthorized card usage. But you have to realize that fraudsters are also creative and resourceful. You need to know these criminals' modus operandi, so you can get an idea of how you can protect yourself.

📌 Lost or Stolen Card

Lost credit card fraud occurs when a perpetrator uses the card that you’ve dropped or misplaced somewhere. It also happens when the fraudster steals the card from you.

📌 Account Takeover

In this scheme, fraudsters take over your credit card account. To do just that, the criminal contacts your issuing bank and uses your personal information to access and change your PINs, mailing addresses, passwords, and other crucial details. Once the perpetrator successfully changes these important details, they can then use your card to make unauthorized transactions.

📌 Collusive Merchant

This happens when merchant employees work with fraudsters to defraud banks and customers. They usually swipe the card twice—once through the payment terminal and once through a skimming device that collects all data from the card. After which, they sell your stolen data to fellow fraudsters on the dark web.

📌 Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud

This type of credit card fraud can be perpetrated against you if the account number and expiry date of your card are known. It may be by way of mail, phone, or the internet. It doesn't require your physical card to be present unless the merchant requests the card verification code.

To ensure the card works, fraudsters may attempt to process a small transaction first. These types of charges are not that noticeable, but they often signify the start of a major fraud attempt.

📌 Card Replacement Scam

Fraudsters claiming to be bank personnel will notify you via SMS, email, or phone call that you are entitled to a lifetime free membership or an increase in credit limit, or that your credit card has been used for a fraudulent transaction. They'll then ask you to surrender your credit card.

📌 Skimming or Credit Card Cloning

Fraudsters place skimming devices, which capture data from your card’s magnetic stripe, at ATMs. A small camera is also sometimes placed to capture PIN key-ins. Data captured from your credit card will then be printed onto a fake one.

📌 Phishing

Usually, fraudsters will send official-looking emails that look just like legit emails from your bank or credit card company. They'll ask you to urgently update your information or else your account will be deactivated. The goal is to get you to click on the link in the email and provide your personal information.

📌 Voice Phishing

Fraudsters will call you and pretend to be someone working for your bank or credit card company. They will trick you into revealing personal information and credit card details over the phone.

📌 SMShing

📌 Spoofing

Spoofing involves the creation of websites that look legit and professionally made. But these websites were set up by scammers to trick you into giving important personal details.

You may stumble upon a spoofed page when you click on a link on an unsecured site. In other cases, links to spoofed websites are included in fraudulent emails and text messages.

📌 SIM Swapping

The perpetrator steals your phone number and assigns it to a new SIM card. Once the reassignment of the mobile number is successful, the fraudster can take over your credit card account. Here’s how it usually happens:

The criminal gets a hold of your contact details, normally through phishing.
The criminal will impersonate you and visit or contact your mobile service provider, reporting that your SIM card or phone is lost or damaged.
If the criminal manages to convince the mobile service provider, they'll be given a new SIM with your number reassigned to it. At this point, your SIM card may get disconnected from your mobile service provider.
Once the criminal has your mobile number, they can freely use your credit card since they already have control over your one-time passwords (OTPs) and other security features.

📌 Dating Fraud

In this scheme, scammers invest time in building a romantic relationship with their victim before they launch their final attack. First, they create fake social media or dating site profiles to find victims.

Once the romantic relationship has been established, the scammer will get the victim to share their personal information, such as credit card details, passwords, and the like.

How Do Banks Prevent Credit Card Fraud?

Credit cards in the Philippines come with various safety features that provide protection for cardholders and act as deterrents for hackers and fraudsters. These include the following:

CVV (Card Verification Code) - Found on the back of your card, this unique three-digit code validates all of your credit card transactions.
Hologram - Also typically found on the back of your card, this sticker confirms its validity. Since it's a layered three-dimensional image, it's harder for fraudsters to replicate.
EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) - This microchip embedded in your card generates a single-use code for every transaction, preventing fraudsters from stealing data.
Two-factor authentication - Use a one-time password (OTP) to further authenticate transactions via text or email.
Transaction alerts - Get notifications for every transaction so that you can monitor ones you didn't make, if any.
Credit card lock and transaction limits - Using your provider's app, control when and where you can use your card and limit the amount of transactions. This helps stave off fraudulent transactions should you lose your card.

What Should You Do to Prevent Credit Card Fraud?

However, all these features don't mean that you should stop being careful. Here are some tips to take to avoid being a victim of credit card fraud:

✔️ Make Sure to Sign Your Credit Card

Merchants check the affixed signature on the back of the credit card as a security precaution. The signature on the credit card should match the signature on the sales receipt.

✔️ Consider Your Credit Card as Important as Cash

It may be a plastic card, but it's good as cash. Keep it secure inside your bag or wallet. Credit card fraud happens when you let your card out of your sight or when you let your guard down.

✔️ Don't Put All Your Credit Cards in One Location

In theory, keeping all your essentials in one place—such as a wallet—is good practice, but what if you misplace it? If you own several credit cards, just bring one with you and keep the rest safe at home. If you lose your wallet, you have only one credit card to report.

✔️ Shred Anything With Your Credit Card Information On It

While most fraudsters aren’t quite as intrepid, there are those who are perfectly willing to go dumpster diving for old credit card billing statements. Shred your statements once you’re through with them. If you want to hold on to them for record purposes, make sure that they aren’t easily found.

✔️ Don’t Sign Blank Receipts

If you get a credit card receipt with blank spaces, strike through those spaces, or write ₱0 on the space before signing. This means you do not authorize any further transactions other than the one already carried out.

✔️ Check Your Credit Card Statements ASAP

This way, you can spot any fraudulent or unusual activity on your credit card and report it to your bank immediately. Most fraudsters don't always make huge and noticeable transactions at first. But they will keep using your credit card until you check your credit card balance, report unauthorized transactions, and block the card.

✔️ Be Wary of Phone Transactions

If you’re in a conversation with someone claiming to be calling on behalf of your bank, it’s best to not engage. Banks will not call and ask for your personal information unless you initiate the call yourself.

✔️ Don't Lend Your Credit Cards

As the cardholder, you are the only authorized user of the credit card. If someone with ill intent borrows your credit card, they can get all your credit card information and use it for their personal gain.

✔️Always Keep Your Credit Card in View When Paying

Never lose sight of your credit card, especially when paying at restaurants, supermarkets, or gas stations where you usually hand off your card to the cashier. Make sure your credit card is swiped correctly. Check if there are no other unnecessary items on the counter or people who can capture your PIN or credit card info.

✔️ Never Post Credit Card Details Online

You never know who's lurking on your social media feed, so don't post your personal and financial information. Remember that fraudsters are very good at finding missing digits on credit cards, guessing credit card expiry dates, and locating credit card issuer ID numbers.

✔️ Only Shop at Trustworthy Websites

When online shopping, only shop at websites that show the gray padlock symbol (Site Identity button) to the left side of the address bar. This means everything is encrypted and you are connected securely to the website.

A gray padlock with a yellow triangle warning or a red strike over it means you should not send sensitive personal information on the site because the site is only partially encrypted.

✔️ Review App Permissions on Your Mobile Device

Check your mobile app permissions one by one. Delete apps whose privacy and security policies don't make sense.

Regularly perform a scan for viruses and other vulnerabilities on your device. While you're at it, invest in legit protection software for your gadgets as well.

✔️ Use Your Card Only at Trustworthy Locations

Only use your card at ATMs and other locations that are secure and trustworthy. For instance, it’s wiser to use an ATM inside a mall compared to an external ATM without a security guard in sight. Malls and reputable stores use EMV technology to keep hackers from using skimming devices.

✔️ Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi When Paying Online

Public Wi-Fi is not recommended for financial transactions. Since it’s not secure, hackers may use it to access your sensitive data.

Should you need to accomplish a finance-related task in a public space, switch to your mobile internet. Make sure that you’re doing it within a private area. If possible, just wait until you get home.

The Card Verification Value or CVV is the three-digit number that proves you have the card with you. When making an offline purchase, be wary of retailers that request your CVV. You should never give them this number since they have no reason to ask for it.

✔️ Destroy Your Expired Physical Card

If your credit card expires, don’t just throw it away. You have to destroy it until the numbers are no longer recognizable or the chip is badly damaged. Just be careful as the plastic can be quite tough.

What to Do If You’re a Victim of Credit Card Fraud

If you think you’re a victim of credit card fraud in the Philippines, your next steps are crucial for keeping the criminal from wreaking further havoc. Here are the important things that you need to do immediately:

❗ Call Your Bank ASAP

Tell the banking representative that you’ve noticed irregular transactions. The bank may cancel the existing card and mail you a new one that contains a different account number, CVV, and expiration date. The bank will then conduct an investigation.

While waiting, check if your mobile banking app allows you to lock your credit card account. That way, you can prevent further transactions.

❗ Report the Case to the Proper Authorities

Identity theft is a serious crime, so it must be reported. Thankfully, the Philippine National Police (PNP) accepts complaints of this nature via its Anti-Cybercrime Group. Here are the department’s contact numbers:

Telephone Number: +63 (8) 723-0401 local 7491
Smart/Viber: +63 961 829 8083

Once you realize that you’re a victim of credit card fraud, you’ll need to exercise heightened caution.

If you have other credit card accounts, check for any irregularities and inconsistencies in your records. Lock them for the time being. You should also change your account usernames and passwords.

❗ Check Your E-Commerce Accounts

Did you save your credit card info on online shopping websites? After all, this facilitates easier payments for repeated transactions. But in the event of a credit card fraud, you need to check if your e-commerce accounts have been compromised as well.

It’s wise to assume that they might have also gotten hold of your other login credentials. With that, change all the usernames or passwords of your e-commerce and social media accounts. Include your email as well.

❗ Enable Your Bank App’s Notification Feature

Now that you’ve experienced how bad credit card fraud and identity theft can get, be extra vigilant to keep these things from happening again. If your banking app has a transactions alert feature, enable it. Usually, such a feature will let you know that certain transactions have exceeded the credit limit or that a specific purchase was made internationally.

❗ Monitor New Transactions Through Your App

As soon as your credit card goes missing, you’ll need to monitor new and irregular transactions through your mobile banking app. If you’ve enabled your card’s two-factor authentication, you’ll easily know if someone is trying to use your credit card since the OTP will be sent to your number. Watch out for these activities even if you’ve already reported the incident to your credit card company.

Learn more about credit card use:

What is the Punishment for Credit Card Fraud in the Philippines?

People who commit Access Device Fraud can receive the harshest penalty of life imprisonment, with a fine of up to ₱5 million.

Acts that fall under Access Device Fraud include the following:

Hacking
Illegal access to ATM and online banking accounts
Skimming or counterfeiting debit and credit cards
Producing or possessing software or hardware that can illegally access information

Republic Act (RA) No. 11449 considers the following acts as a form of ‘economic sabotage and a ‘heinous crime.’^[2]

Final Thoughts

Credit card fraud in the Philippines remains a big problem. But there are many ways you can protect yourself and your credit card data.

Fraudsters and scammers usually obtain credit card information in the Philippines through public networks. If you connect your phone or laptop to such a network, be very careful with entering your personal information.

Be careful with your credit card application as well. Make sure that you're only filling out legit online credit card application forms.

Lastly, always think before you click. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it's most likely a scam. More importantly, do your research. Knowledge is your best defense!

💳 Discover More Credit Card Options via Moneymax

Looking for another credit card? Here are some of your best options in the Philippines:

Credit Card	Best For	Key Features
UnionBank Rewards Credit Card	Rewards	1 point per ₱30 spend 3x points for shopping and dining in the Philippines and overseas Non-expiring points can be redeemed for cash credits, gadgets, and more
Metrobank World Mastercard^®	Dining	Up to 50% off on dining deals 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend 2x rewards points for every ₱20 international spend
HSBC Platinum Visa Rebate	Travel	5% cashback on travel transactions Free travel insurance 6% rebate on the first Caltex fuel purchase plus a 3% fuel rebate all year round
Security Bank Complete Cashback Mastercard	Cashback	5% cashback on groceries 4% on fuel 3% on utilities 2% on dining 1% on shopping
BPI Rewards Card	Beginners	Low income requirement of ₱15,000 Low annual fee of ₱1,550 (waived for the first year)
Petron BPI Card	Fuel Purchases and Auto Services	3% fuel rebate at participating Petron stations nationwide Free ₱200 fuel voucher for first-time cardholders
UnionBank Lazada Credit Card	Online Shopping	₱6 Lazada Credits per ₱200 spend at Lazada, ₱1 Lazada Credit per ₱200 spend elsewhere Welcome gift: ₱5,000 Lazada Wallet Credits Free monthly shipping of up to ₱50 Free discount vouchers worth ₱500