Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Warns Public About Viber Scams
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has issued a warning to the public regarding the use of the Viber chat program by online criminals to scam and harm others. The CICC detected failed attempts to send video and file transfers through Viber on September 26, 2023, at around 10 AM, thanks to its new Consumer Application Monitoring Systems (CAMS).
The Philippines, under the leadership of President Bongbong Marcos, has been actively embracing digitalization to unlock transformative potential for its citizens. However, the government remains vigilant in mitigating potential risks associated with these technologies. In this article, we will discuss the latest advisory from the CICC regarding cybercriminals using the Viber app and how the Philippine government’s CAMS protects citizens from growing cyber threats.
How Did the CICC Detect Viber Cybercriminals?
The CICC released an advisory yesterday after the CAMS detected failed attempts to send video and file transfers through Viber. Here’s an excerpt from the public announcement:
“We have detected continuous failed attempts to send video and file transfers using the Viber system in multiple sites covered by the CAMS platform both domestically and internationally since 10 AM today, while messaging and voice calls have been successful through the Viber platform.”
The CICC shared this advisory a few weeks after formally launching CAMS, which monitors online applications for consumer protection. Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos stated that the detection of Viber usage proves CAMS’ effectiveness in detecting problems and protecting consumers.
What is CAMS?
The Consumer Application Monitoring Systems (CAMS) are a set of hardware and software applications designed to identify issues with government digital services. The CICC has discovered various issues through CAMS, including:
- Load time: 61% of users expect mobile apps to load within four seconds.
- Crash rate: 53% of users uninstall apps if they crash, freeze, or encounter errors.
- Poor reviews: 41% of negative app reviews are due to bugs or poor performance.
- Device & OS compatibility: 51% of users uninstall apps if they take up too much space on their device storage.
To address these issues, the Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy launched CAMS, following the “Zero Defects” principle popularized by American philosopher Philip Crosby. CAMS utilizes AI-powered vision to detect errors and automate event detection, as well as robots for multi-stage user journey automation. CAMS autonomous kits collect location-based data to highlight areas that may require further assistance.
According to CICC Executive Director Ramos, CAMS aims to educate the public about the options provided by the government, rather than just being a warning. The objective is to ensure that the public understands that there are alternatives available.
How to Report Cybercriminals in the Philippines
If you suspect any cybercrimes, you can report them to the CICC through their main hotline at 1326. The Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC) is also available at 0966 9765971 (Globe), 09477147105 (Smart), and 09914814225 (DITO) for reporting concerns. Additionally, you can send concerns to the CICC Facebook page, where their new CYRI chatbot is available. It is important to provide accurate and complete information in your reports, including the victim’s name, mobile number, email address, address of residence, specific details of the complaint, digital evidence in image file format, and any other relevant information.
Conclusion
The CICC has issued a warning about the use of Viber by cybercriminals, and the Philippine government has taken steps to combat online scams by partnering with online risk management firm Gogolook. The collaboration aims to build a stronger anti-fraud network to stay ahead of scammers’ evolving methods. It is important for citizens to stay informed about the latest digital tips and trends to protect themselves from cyber threats.
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