THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a steady rise in the number of cybercrime cases in the country over the past years owing to the growing use of internet.
Data from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) showed there were 21,269 cybercrime cases recorded and investigated by the unit last year, up from nearly 14,000 cases recorded in 2022.
The ACG was established in 2013 principally to investigate cybercrimes and other crimes using information and communications technology. Only 149 cybercrime incidents were reported that year.
There has been a steady rise in reported cybercrime cases — 538 in 2014, and 1,098 (2015), 1,937 (2016), 2,284 (2017), 4,103 (2018), 5,335 (2019), 5,735 (2020), 7,708 (2021), and 13,890 in 2022.
Since the establishment of the ACG in 2013 to December last year, 64,046 cybercrime cases were recorded by the unit “as the hype of internet usage continues.”
Online scams have become the most prevalent type of cybercrime, reflecting the changing landscape of digital threats.
The ACG said cybercriminals took advantage of new technology to swindle or scam victims “in the guise of promoting, investing, selling, or utilizing the said platforms in exchange for money.”
“This resulted in online scam as the biggest contributor to the list of cybercrime cases recorded by this group,” it said.
Swindling/estafa or online scam topped the list of 10 most prevalent cybercrimes last year, followed by illegal access, computer-related identity theft, online libel, ATM/credit card fraud, threat, data interference, anti-photo and video voyeurism, unjust vexation, and computer-related fraud.
“The top cybercrimes reported to the ACG became prevalent due to the increased usage of the internet and the shift of most commercial processes online,” the ACG said.
“Cybercriminals exploit the current state of our dependency on internet usage. During the pandemic, scammers defrauded civilians through SMS (short messaging system) and online social platforms by posing as an agency or corporation offering free money or credits from digital wallet platforms,” it added.
The ACG reported 2,354 cybercrime cases in March 2023, the most in a month for that year. The number of monthly cases decreased until December when there were only 1,075 cases reported.
The ACG attributed the decrease to the “continuous effort of this group in conducting cybercrime awareness campaigns/programs through issuing cyber security tips on its website and social media accounts, conduct of TV interviews and hosting radio programs and seminars.”
Notable in the data is the ACG’s crime solution efficiency.
Of the 21,269 cybercrime cases reported last year, 18,774 were solved — an 88.27 crime solution efficiency rating.
Comparatively, of the 13,890 cybercrime cases reported in 2022, 10,879 were solved for an 78.32 crime solution efficiency.
Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr said the interior and police departments will be intensifying their efforts to address crimes, including those cyber-related, this year.
“We will also exert every effort to sustain the reduction of crime incidence in 2024. We will scale up our crime prevention systems through the use of technology and enhance the operational capacity to address emerging and perennial threats to peace, including cyber criminality and transnational crimes,” he said.
CYBER TRAINING FOR COPS
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr said he agrees with the assessment of some information technology experts about the further increase of cybercrime cases.
“I agree with that fear, actually that’s realistic,” he said. “Based on statistics, it’s really increasing.”
“The increase is alarming,” said Acorda, adding that the PNP will be procuring additional information and communications technology equipment and will be training more policemen to address the problem.
Acorda said improving the PNP cyber response capability is “very timely or very appropriate” because cybercrime cases are “drastically increasing.”
Acorda said the PNP will also be training policemen, down to the level of the police stations, for a better police response to cybercrime cases.
“We want to capacitate our police officers. As of now, only the regional offices have cybercrime (units) so to enhance (our response), we want to capacitate our police stations. We need training there as part of our honest to goodness operations,” he said.
Acorda said victims of cybercrimes have to go the regional police offices to report cybercrimes. Once capacitated, police stations will have personnel dedicated to handle cybercrimes “so that would be better.”
EXPLOITATION
ACG director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia said cybercrime incidents “are not static,” adding “they evolve with technology.”
In 2023, Hernia said, cybercriminals exploited emerging technologies like non-fungible tokens, cryptocurrencies, and online casinos to defraud unsuspecting victims.
“Notably, online scams have become the most prevalent type of cybercrime, reflecting the changing landscape of digital threats,” said Hernia.
Acorda commended the ACG for its accomplishments, adding the ACG’s achievements in safeguarding the digital realm “is aligned with our focused agenda on advancing our information and communication technology to suppress crimes through the conduct of honest and aggressive law enforcement operations.”
“Their overall efforts in addressing the evolving landscape of cybercrimes is highly commendable,” said Acorda.
For inquiries, assistance and complaint, the public may contact the ACG through 0945-5105981, or may visit the websites cybercrimewatch.pnp.gov.ph and acg.pnp.gov.ph.
