Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada has filed a measure seeking to protect senior citizens from cybercrimes and other fraudulent activities.
Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 671 in light of the continuing proliferation of online crimes which increased 100 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, targeting mostly retired elderly citizens.
“Walang manloloko kung walang magpapaloko. At walang mabibiktima kung sila ay may alam sa mga istilo ng mga scammers (No one would be duped if there are no scammers. People would not be victimized if they have idea about the style of these scammers),” Estrada said.
Senate Bill 671 or the proposed Senior Citizens’ Fraud Education Act, primarily seeks the establishment of a centralized inter-agency office that would be tasked to provide periodic information dissemination to senior citizen and their families and caregivers about the various schemes of scammers.
Estrada said it is important to look after the welfare of those in the vulnerable sectors against fraudsters considering most elderly consumers are unfamiliar with today’s technology.
The senator pointed out organized crime syndicates use social media and other online platforms to carry out illegal activities.
Under the bill, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be the lead agency and would be supported by the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health (DOH), and the Philippine Postal Corporation.
The said inter-agency body would be required to formulate and disseminate through mail, telemarketing and the internet methods on how to report and file complaints related to fraud schemes targeting inform senior citizens and other vulnerable groups.
Likewise, the DTI shall coordinate and establish partnerships with the National Commission of Senior Citizens and the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in conducting information dissemination campaigns.
The DTI shall also collaborate with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Insurance Commission (IC), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in ascertaining the various nature of scams and cybercrimes.
The agency would also be tasked to maintain a website where citizens can access information to help detect scams related to financial products and services, lending and investment instruments, insurance products, text scams and other fraudulent activities.