Scammers don’t take a break, BSP warns

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 11, 2026

Photo courtesy: BSP

CALGARY — The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary has issued a public service reminder urging Filipinos in Alberta and across Canada to remain vigilant against financial scams, noting that fraudsters operate year-round and are not limited to the culturally significant “Ghost Month” period when Filipinos are traditionally more cautious of ill fortune.

The advisory, shared by the Consulate courtesy of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as part of its ongoing #BSPSecuriTips campaign, warns that scammers impersonating legitimate individuals or institutions continue to actively search for victims regardless of the calendar.

According to the BSP advisory, the public should observe the following precautions:

• Do not click links sent through text messages or e-mail.
• Do not share one-time passwords (OTPs), account passwords, account details, or other personal information with anyone.
• Transact only through the official channels of one’s bank or e-wallet provider.

The BSP is also promoting the practice of #CPR, or #CheckProtectReport, encouraging the public to check the legitimacy of transactions and communications, protect personal and financial information, and report suspicious activity to the proper authorities.

Why it matters for Filipinos abroad

Overseas Filipinos, including members of the Filipino-Canadian community in Alberta, are frequent targets of scams involving remittances, online banking, and e-wallet transactions, as fraudsters often exploit trust in official-looking messages purportedly from banks or government agencies.

The Consulate’s reminder is intended to help Filipinos in Canada recognize common tactics used by scammers and take preventive steps before falling victim to fraud.

The BSP has not specified in this advisory any particular incident or spike in scam activity prompting the reminder. 

The Consulate encouraged members of the public with concerns about suspicious transactions to reach out to their respective banks or e-wallet providers through verified official channels.