GCash assures users of safety measures vs cybercriminals

MANILA, Philippines — Mobile wallet GCash assured its users that different security measures have been put in place to protect them from fraud and cybercriminals.

GCash said it has beefed up its safety measures to keep customers alert and aware of their accounts’ security.

“As the fight against the coronavirus ensues, we’re also waging a war against unscrupulous individuals who are taking advantage of this pandemic to defraud Filipinos,” GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.

“We want to ensure that GCash users who are dependent on our services have trust and confidence in our app, which is why we are doing everything we can to improve our own programs that promote cybersecurity awareness,” Sazon said.

GCash said users would receive SMS, in-app and social media advisories against fraudulent pages, including fake donation drives and fake financial aid offers under the government’s social amelioration program.

App notifications informing customers not to share their account details have also been rolled out.

GCash said as soon as a customer opens the app, a reminder not to share any information such as MPINs and one-time pins with anyone can be seen.

Social media live streams that explain how users can further secure their account and delve into account safety and security were also launched to make sure that the average GCash user understands how and why these features are important.

GCash earlier partnered with authorities in fraud investigations, offering assistance and cooperating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Last May, GCash helped the NBI arrest three online swindlers who asked for users’ personal details, including birth dates, addresses, authentication codes and email addresses.

Qualified GCash users are assured of compensation for unauthorized financial transactions on their app, arising from stolen mobile phones or identity theft, through the company’s Customer Protect program.