CEBU – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cebu hosted a consumer forum featuring expert speakers from various government agencies to help consumers guard against online scams on Tuesday, October 08, 2024 in Cebu City. Representatives from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) VII, the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) VII, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Visayas, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) VII, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Cebu, and DTI-Cebu shared insights to empower consumers in today’s digital landscape.

This forum aligns with the Philippines’ annual celebration of Consumer Welfare Month (CWM), spearheaded by DTI to promote consumer rights and protection. The 2024 theme, “Be Smart, Assert Your Consumer Rights!” was reinforced by the forum’s sub-theme: “Be Alert, Outsmart the Scammers!”. This highlighted the urgent need for heightened awareness amidst the rising number of online and offline scams, urging consumers to stay vigilant and proactive.

The event attracted a wide range of participants, including members of DTI-accredited consumer organizations, student groups, manufacturers, retailers, and senior citizens’ representatives from Mandaue and Cebu City. Attendees were equipped with knowledge and tools to detect and combat the evolving threat of online fraud.

The forum featured presentations from Atty. Allan Felix J. Macaraya Jr. of NTC Region VII, who discussed online scams and the importance of SIM registration in preventing fraud; PLT Mark Anthony R. Fredeluces from RACU VII’s Digital Forensics Unit, who highlighted cybercrime awareness and common scam tactics; and Dr. Gregory Baccay III, Head of BSP Visayas Regional Economic Affairs Staff, who emphasized digital financial literacy to help consumers protect their financial transactions.

Likewise, Ms. Dionne Drew Diano of SEC Cebu educated participants on identifying and avoiding investment scams, Ms. Richelle Pabellar, Planning Assistant at DICT-7, spoke on cybersecurity awareness for all demographics, and Atty. Airene Abapo of DTI-Cebu concluded the event with practical advice on how to outsmart scammers.

The forum also featured interactive plenary sessions, where participants had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with the speakers. The speakers further elaborated on their topics, addressing consumer concerns and highlighting real-world examples of how scams are evolving.

According to DTI-Cebu Consumer Protection Chief Ms. Ines Cajegas, the main point of the event was to the address the ever-evolving nature of scammers’ tactics, underscoring the importance of ongoing consumer education and vigilance. “The forum’s message, “Be Alert: Outsmart the Scammers,” effectively resonated with this year’s focus on consumer protection in the digital age,” she added.

“As the Consumer Welfare Month activities continue, DTI-Cebu remains committed to fostering an informed and empowered consumer base, ensuring that the public is equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves from fraud and scams,” said Cajegas. (DTI Cebu/PR) ♦

Date of release: 09 October 2024

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