NINETEENTHCONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. S’?!
of ti»? !*(‘.TUirj>
*22 JUL18 A9 31
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, SENIOR CITIZENS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR 
CAREGIVERS ON IDENTIFYING AND PREVENTING FRAUDULENT 
ACTIVITIES TARGETING SENIOR CITIZENS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2019, a 67-year old widow lost P8 million in a "love scam," where a foreign 
national who introduced himself as a Filipino contractor and fabricated stories to solicit 
money from the victim, while banking on their alleged "romantic, virtual relationship1."
This is just one of the many criminal cases preying on the elderly. In November 
2021, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) alerted the public about the rampant 
"love scams" and "budol-budol" schemes amid the pandemic. NBI warned about the 
alarming 100% increase In cybercrime cases being reported to them, and most of the 
targets are retired senior citizens2.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which releases an annual report 
on Elder Fraud, said "the number of elderly victims has risen at an alarming rate, and 
in 2021, over 92,000 victims over the age of 60 reported losses of $1.7 billion3." FBI 
believes that "seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite.
1 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1190655/nigerian-nabbed-over-alleged-p8-m-online-scam
2 "NBI reminds seniors to beware of 'love scams/ 'budoi-budol' amid pandemic. November 23, 2021.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technologv/811914/nbi-reminds-seniors-to-beware-of-loye-
scams-budol-budol-amid-pandemic/story/
3 Elder Fraud Report 2021. https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2Q21 lC3ElderFraudReport.pdf


They also have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit - all of which 
make them attractive to scammers4."
This measure, which was reported out by the Committees on Trade, Commerce 
and Entrepreneurship; and Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development during the 
18th Congress, aims to protect our senior citizens against fraudulent activities through 
proactive and centralized information and education campaigns. Considering that most 
of the elderly consumers are unfamiliar with today's technology and the organized 
crime syndicates are taking advantage of the general public's heightened use of social 
media and virtual platforms, there is a need to look after the vulnerable sectors against 
scammers and fraudsters.
In light of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is highly recommended.
GOOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
4 https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/saltlakecitv/news/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-increased- 
reports-of-fraud-targeting-seniors-in-montana


NINETEENTHCONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
s. No. 671
lUlH
•22 JUL18 A 9 31
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY E3ERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, SENIOR CITIZENS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR 
CAREGIVERS ON IDENTIFYING AND PREVENTING FRAUDULENT 
ACTIVITIES TARGETING SENIOR CITIZENS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ""Senior Citizens'Fraud
2 
Education Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Centralized Service for Consumer Education on Mail, Telemarketing, and
4 
Internet Fraud Targeting Senior Citizens. -
5 
(A) Requirement - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), after consultation
6 
with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health (DOH) and the
7 
Philippine Postal Corporation, shall;
8 
(1) periodically disseminate to senior citizens, and families and caregivers of
9 
senior citizens, general information on mail, telemarketing, and internet
10 
fraud targeting seniors, including descriptions of the most common fraud
11 
schemes;
12 
(2) periodically disseminate to senior citizens, and families and caregivers of
13 
seniors, information on methods available to report fraud targeting
14 
seniors, such as:


1 
(a) referring complaints to law enforcement agencies, including
2 
the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Nationai Bureau
3 
of Investigation (NBI); and,
4 
(b) calling a telephone number established by the DTI for
5 
reporting mail, telemarketing and internet fraud.
6 
(3) in response to a specific request by a party to the DTI inquiring about
7 
any history of fraud committed by a particular entity or individual,
8 
provide to such party any publicly available information on any record of
9 
law enforcement action for fraud against such entity or individual by the
10 
DTI, and by any other agency that reports such actions to the DTI; and,
11 
(4) maintain a website to serve as a resource for information for senior
12 
citizens, and families and caregivers of senior citizens, regarding mail,
13 
telemarketing, and internet fraud targeting senior citizens.
14 
(B) Procedures and Commencement - The DTI shall establish and implement
15 
procedures to carry out the requirements of paragraph (A), including
16 
procedures:
17 
(1) with respect to the frequency and mode of dissemination of information;
18 
and,
19 
(2) that provide for the implementation of the requirements of such
20 
paragraph not later than one (1) year after the date of the effectivity of
21 
this Act.
22 
Sec. 3. Coordination and Partnership with Government Agencies. - The DTI
23 
shall coordinate and establish partnerships with the National Commission of Senior
24 
Citizens and the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of local government units in
25 
conducting Information dissemination campaigns and in order to fully implement the
26 
provisions of this Act.
27 
The DTI shall also collaborate with the following government agencies:
28 
a) Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) - with respect to fraud and scams related
29 
to products and services of BSP-regulated financial Institutions;
30 
b) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Insurance Commission -
31 
with respect to fraud and scams related to lending and Investment
32 
instruments and insurance products; and


1 
c) National Telecommunications Commission - with respect to text scams and
2 
Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card fraud; and
3 
d) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and
4 
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) - for other
5 
fraudulent activities and cybercrimes.
6 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
7 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
8 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
9 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
10 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
11 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
12 
accordingly.
13 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,