CICC sees big dip in text, call scams but warns of shift to social media, messaging apps

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Figures by CICC partner firm, Taiwan-based Gogolook, show text scams drop from 1.28 million in Q2 2024 to 65,035 in Q2 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) on Monday, July 21, reported a massive decline in SMS and voice call scams in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024, but malicious links found on social media and messaging apps such as Viber and Telegram increased, quarter-over-quarter.

The agency, citing figures from partner firm, the Taiwan-based Gogolook, found that SMS scams plunged by 94.95%, dropping from 1.28 million texts in Q2 2024 to just 65,035 in Q2 2025. Scam calls saw an equally dramatic drop from 135,535 instances in Q2 2024 to 34,964 in Q2 2025. 

The figures provided are based on data collected on Gogoglook’s Whoscall app, which provides spam blocking, URL scanning services, and the ability to identify phone numbers that have been used for scamming based on its database and community reports. 

What this means is that the figures are not the overall number of scam SMS and calls in the Philippines but rather a sample derived from users of the Whoscall app. 

Comparatively, telco Globe reported 2.74 million scam text messages in the first half of 2024, a decline from the 4.85 million instances it found in the same period in 2023. 

Gogolook’s newer numbers show that the downward trend continued this year. 

Gogolook, in its report, cited the SIM Registration Act, enhanced user education and awareness, and scam hub raids made by authorities in 2025, amounting to the dismantling of 12 scam hubs involved in romance scams, online loan extortion, crypto fraud, POGO-style operations, fake call centers, and trafficking-linked compounds. 

At least by Gogolook’s numbers, these government actions are working. And just as well, it’s the result of “collective action,” said Gogolook country head Mel Migrino. “This significant drop is the result of collective action — from government and private-sector innovations to increased awareness and reporting by ordinary Filipinos… It shows that strong collaboration works.”

CICC deputy executive director Renato Paraiso suggested at least one more stringent measure to further stamp down scam calls and texts: limit the number of SIMs a person may be able to register, citing the proliferation of pre-registered SIMs for sale on the Facebook marketplace that may be continued to be used for illegal activities. 

But whereas scams via traditional text and calls have decreased, scammers appear to have moved their business elsewhere: Facebook and other social media apps, and messaging apps such as Telegram, and Viber among others. 

Gogolook saw a notable increase in malicious links it monitored on those online platforms, rising from 13,602 in Q1 2025 to 18,735 in Q2 2025. The links can lead to online scams, phishing attacks, and malware distribution when clicked. These often promise discounts, rewards and incentives, loan offers, or lead to gambling-related sites. 

Migrino said that the shift may be tied to efforts clamping down on traditional texts and calls. Paraiso said this is their challenge now: “cracking down on content embedded in these apps where Filipinos spend most of their screen time.” 

“Partnerships with platforms, public education, and real-time takedown coordination remain key priorities moving into Q3.” – Rappler.com