THE PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has recorded 1,597 cases of cyber identity theft last year, up by nearly 200 compared to the previous year.
The increase prompted the ACG to reiterate its call to the public to be cautious in sharing personal information online to avoid falling victim.
“Significantly, there was a notable increase (in cyber identity theft) of 12.2 percent from 1,402 reported cases in 2022 to 1,597 cases in 2023,” the ACG said in a statement yesterday.
Computer-related identity theft is punishable under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The law defines the offense as the “intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right.”
The ACG said it has arrested 20 suspects for cyber identity theft in the last two years while some suspects in these cases “are under thorough investigation or referred to other agencies.”
“Some cases are resolved under the criteria of ‘beyond police control,’ signifying complainant-related issues such as failure to submit requirements, refusal to prosecute, record-keeping requests, or challenges in locating the individuals despite diligent PNP efforts,” the ACG added.
The ACG said cyber identity theft occurs when individuals unknowingly share personal information through methods such as phishing, scams, or downloading malicious software.
“Cybercriminals exploit social media platforms and insecure networks, compromised ATMs, and target data breaches on company, government, or educational websites,” it added.
The ACG said the public should be careful when sharing personal information online.
“Therefore, PNP ACG emphasizes the importance of exercising caution in sharing unnecessary personal information online, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and look for “https://” in the URL when entering sensitive information on websites,” the ACG said.
It said people can “significantly reduce” the risk of falling victim to cyber identify theft if they follow these tips and “staying vigilant” while online.
“Always be proactive in managing your online presence and protecting your personal information,” the ACG said.
