The data, featured in TransUnion’s H1 2025 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud Report, revealed that 13.4 percent of digital transactions originating from the Philippines were suspected to be fraudulent. This figure places the country behind India (19 percent ), and ahead of the Dominican Republic (10.9 percent) among the markets analyzed.
The report also noted that the suspected fraud rate in the Philippines was more than double the global average of 5.4 percent in 2024, and has consistently outpaced the global rate for five consecutive years since 2020. The country saw a 5-percent increase in suspected fraud year-on-year, in stark contrast to the 8percent global decrease over the same period.
More Filipinos targeted, affected by fraud
Between November and December 2024, TransUnion surveyed consumers in 18 countries. The findings showed that 74 percent of Filipinos reported being targeted by fraud through email, calls, texts, or online channels—significantly higher than the global average of 53 percent .
Additionally, 34 percent of Filipino respondents admitted to losing money due to these fraud attempts, surpassing the global rate of 29 percent . The average reported loss in the Philippines was $768 (about P44,700), which—though lower than the global median of $1,747—still translates to over two months' worth of wages for many households.
“While the reported losses are lower than global figures, the impact on Filipino families is severe when measured against average income,” Yogesh Daware, chief commercial officer at TransUnion Philippines, said in a statement. “This highlights the urgent need for greater fraud protection.”
Online communities, retail, financial services
The online communities sector, which includes dating platforms, social media, and forums, had the highest fraud rate among Philippine industries at 19.2 percent , exceeding the global rate of 11.6 percent by 66 percent.
This is significant in a country where 78 percent of the population actively uses social media. Despite a global dip in digital transaction volume in this sector, the number of fraud attempts rose, indicating increasingly aggressive tactics by cybercriminals.
The retail industry followed with a 13-percent fraud rate in the Philippines, again surpassing the global average of 7.6 percent . Meanwhile, financial services remained a target at 6.3 percent, though this figure represented a 35-percent year-on-year decline, even as digital transaction volume in the sector increased by 17 percent .
Public-private collaboration
The reduction in financial services fraud may be due to intensified efforts from both the government and private stakeholders. Recent initiatives include:
Nationwide campaigns against digital scams
Mandatory cooperation among financial institutions
The launch of the TransUnion Fraud Industry Council (FIC) in 2024 to promote unified industry response and consumer protection
“Fraudsters are constantly evolving. Businesses and consumers must stay ahead by investing in awareness, technology, and collaboration,” said Daware. “We hope to see even more cross-industry efforts that will help strengthen fraud defenses in the Philippines.”
TransUnion’s analysis was based on data collected through TruValidate, its global fraud prevention solution. The report covers 21 countries including India, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Brazil, South Africa, and others. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
