NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
,iA!'! 20 PI ;:9
SENATE
S. No. 2924
l:i
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE SCAM PREVENTION CENTER AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
With the advent of more sophisticated technoiogy aiso comes the new breed 
of compiex criminai enterprises, such as financiai scamming committed through oniine 
or digitai means.
Based on giobai TransUnion Phiiippines anaiysis, just in the first haif of 2024, 
18.0% of digitai transactions originating from the Phiiippines across communities were 
suspected of being digitai fraud - higher than the giobai rate of 11.5%.[1] The anaiysis 
aiso mentioned that the Philippines has 13% suspected digitai fraud rate, significantiy 
higher than the giobai rate of 5.2%.
Additionally, as published by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) under its 
"State of Scams in the Philippines 2024", Filipinos have reportedly lost $8.1 billion, or 
nearly Php 460 billion, in the past twelve (12) months because of text messaging 
scams alone that offered too-good-to-be-true deals. It is estimated that the losses 
amount to 1.9% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that fraudsters 
cause an average loss of $275, or around P16,000, for each Filipino victim.[2]
With these alarming reports and increasing numbers of scam victims, 
deterrence and eventual prosecution of these cybercrimes have proven to be 
challenging and therefore, new and responsive legislation must be introduced to 
combat the worsening rate of financial cybercrime in the country.
Thus, this bill seeks to complement the newly enacted Anti-Financial Account 
Scamming Act (AFASA) or the Republic Act 12010, by establishing a Philippine Scam


Prevention Center (PSPC). The PSPC shall be headed by the CICC, in close coordination 
with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), 
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Privacy Commission (NPC), 
financial institutions, telecommunication companies, online marketplaces, financial 
technology companies, and operators of online or payment systems, among others.
Among the main functions of the PSPC is to serve as a coordinating link between 
the relevant public and private sectors, such as financial institutions and law 
enforcement agencies, to facilitate the expeditious availment of actions or remedies 
for victims of scamming.
In light of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR
I1' TransUnion Philippines. (2024, November 12). TransUnion analysis finds online forum and dating site fraud
from the Philippines much higher than global average. https;//newsroom.transunion.ph/transunion-analysis-fmds-
online-forum-and-dating-site-fraud-from-the-philippines-much-higher-than-global-average/
l2] Jasper, T. (2024, October). “Alarming”: P460B lost to scams in PH, says study. lNQUIRER.net.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1993340/alarming-p460b-lost-to-scams-in-ph-says-study#ixzz8u4kw0009


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 2924
2b ,IAN 20 r I :}9
lii:.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE SCAM PREVENTION CENTER AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
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 '''Philippine Scam
2 
Prevention Center (PSPC)."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
4 
promote and preserve the integrity of the country's financial system by providing
5 
adequate protection against fraudulent activities committed in cyberspace or digital
6 
platforms.
7 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure proper mechanisms and remedies in
8 
place for the effective and efficient enforcement of the relevant laws for the protection
9 
of the financial sector and the general public.
10 
Sec. 3. Creation and Composition of the Philippine Scam Prevention Center. -
11 
Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the Philippine Scam Prevention
12 
Center, hereinafter referred to as PSPC, shall be created under the Cybercrime
13 
Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
14 
The PSPC shall be composed of agencies comprising the CICC with the
15 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), National
16 
Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Privacy Commission (NPC), financial


1 
institutions, telecommunication companies, online marketplaces, financial technology
2 
companies, and operators of online or payment systems, among others.
3 
The Executive Director of the CICC shall determine the organizational structure
4 
and staffing pattern of the PSPC and its secretariat, subject to the approval of the
5 
majority of inter-agency members of the CICC.
6 
Sec. 5. Functions of the Philippine Scam Prevention Center. -The PSPC shall
7 
have the following powers and functions:
8 
a. Serve as the primary governmental agency in enforcing and
9 
implementing laws related to online or digital fraud and financial
10 
scamming;
11 
b. Act as central office for online or digital fraud and financial scamming-
12 
related complaints;
13 
c. Establish Scam Prevention Centers in different regions and localities of
14 
the country, subject to the existing rules and regulations under Executive
15 
Order No. 292, s. 1987, or the Administrative Code of 1987;
16 
d. Develop and implement national strategies to combat online or digital
17 
fraud and financial scamming;
18 
e. Coordinate the programs and projects of the various member agencies
19 
to effectively address the issues and problems attendant to online or
20 
digital fraud and financial scamming;
21 
f. Assist in filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions or
22 
entities that violate the provisions of Republic Act No. 12010, also known
23 
as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and the Republic Act No.
24 
10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012;
25 
g. Develop the mechanism and ensure the timely, coordinated, and
26 
effective response to cases of online or digital fraud and financial
27 
scamming;
28 
h. Serve as a coordinating link between the relevant public and private
29 
sectors, such as financial institutions and 
law enforcement agencies, to
30 
facilitate the expeditious availment of actions or remedies for victims of
31 
scamming, and;


1 
i. Monitor the implementation of Republic Act No. 12010 or the Anti-
2 
Financial Account Scamming Act and the Republic Act No. 10175 or the
3 
Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, for policy making and program
4 
development purposes.
5 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one (1) year from the
6 
effectivity of this Act, the CICC, in coordination with the law enforcement agencies the
7 
DTI, BSP, NTC, and NPC, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively
8 
implement the provisions of this Act.
9 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation
10 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the
11 
departments/agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
12 
continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
13 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
14 
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected thereby shall remain in
15 
full force and effect.
16 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
17 
letters of instruction, and administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the
18 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
19 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
20 
the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
21 
circulation.
Approved,