WE SHOULD be aware of various types of cybercrimes, which have risen by 21.8 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the last quarter of 2023, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).
It is worrisome that a total 4,469 cybercrimes took place from January to March 2024.
This represents a substantial increase from the 3, 668 incidents reported in the fourth quarter of last year.
The number represents an average of 49 cybercrimes every day in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 40 in the last three months of 2023.
In February, the PNP-ACG reported that cybercrimes surged by 68.98 percent last year, from 11,523 cases in 2022 to 19,472 incidents in 2023.
These cybercrimes include online selling scams (990 cases), investment scams (319 cases) and debit/credit card scams (309 cases).
The marked increase in cybercrime, police said, may be due to increased online activity, increasingly sophisticated tactics of cybercriminals, and lack of public awareness.
The police reported that cases of online scams surged by 94.64 percent from 7,208 incidents in 2022 to 14,030 cases in 2023.
Sexual extortion also increased from 110 cases in 2022 to 121 incidents last year.
The number of cybercrimes has increased continuously despite the 2022 enactment of Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Card Registration Act, which the National Telecommunications Commission claimed would curb cybercrimes. RA 11934 was the first bill President Marcos Jr. signed into law in Oct. 2022.
The substantial increase in cybercrimes has become so alarming that the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission warned last September that online scams have gotten worse than the country’s problem with illegal drugs.
“The problem with online scams is now worse than drugs. Even the record from PNP reflects that scam cases have exceeded ordinary crime cases,” said Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz of PAOCC
Other cybercrimes monitored by authorities are identity theft, online threats, data interference, computer-related fraud, love scam, cyberlibel and violence against women and children.
Amid the surge in cybercrimes, President Marcos Jr. recently ordered the PNP to put up cybersecurity desks in all police stations and increase the training of investigators.
We are glad that PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil has already launched an intensified drive against cybercrimes with the allocation of more resources and enhancing capabilities to combat the growing threat of cyber-related offenses.
But fighting cybercrime should not just be the responsibility of the police, but the citizenry as well. By reporting cybercrimes to the police, we take the first important step in stopping this form of illegal activity and bringing the perpetrators to justice.