MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said cybercrime cases in 2025 were “substantially fewer” compared to the previous year, citing stronger enforcement and heightened public vigilance against online scams.
Data from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) showed that online selling scams, the most common cybercrime, fell by 49.5 percent — from 3,025 cases in 2024 to 1,525 in 2025. Investment-related scams, including task scams, dropped even more steeply, plunging 73.5 percent from 1,101 cases in 2024 to 291 last year.
Other categories also recorded significant declines:
- Hijacked profile or ID scams decreased by 69.7 percent, from 604 cases in 2024 to 183 in 2025.
- Vishing incidents (voice phishing) fell by 86.4 percent, from 589 cases in 2024 to just 80 last year.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. credited the results to sustained cyberpatrolling and awareness drives. “The sharp drop in cybercrimes is due to sustained cyberpatrolling, digital investigations, and public awareness efforts,” he said.
Authorities emphasized that the decline reflects both proactive monitoring of online platforms and the growing caution of internet users. The PNP noted that its campaigns warning against fraudulent schemes, coupled with quicker investigative responses, have helped reduce opportunities for cybercriminals.
Despite the progress, officials cautioned that cybercrime remains a persistent threat, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence-driven scams and increasingly sophisticated phishing tactics. The PNP urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid suspicious online offers, and report incidents promptly.
The agency also reiterated its commitment to strengthening partnerships with technology companies and financial institutions to further curb online fraud.
Numbers Can Inform, Yet Numbers Can Also Deceive
Police data for 2025 paints a hopeful picture. Cybercrime reports went down. Online scams dropped. Several categories showed steep declines. On paper, the trend suggests progress in digital investigations and public awareness.
But statistics do not capture the full digital landscape.
Editorials must look beyond spreadsheets and percentages. Many victims stay silent. Some never file complaints. Others lack access to proper channels. Unreported losses remain invisible to official records. Criminal groups adjust their tactics every day, every month, every year.
That creates a risky illusion. A drop in numbers can make internet users relaxed. It can also make law enforcement relaxed. Celebrating decline too loudly may weaken vigilance too early. Cybercrime thrives on inattention, on overconfidence, on the belief that the problem has faded.
The problem has not faded.
The problem has shifted.
Proactive cyberpatrolling still matters. Digital literacy still matters. Cooperation with technology companies and financial institutions still matters. These efforts need expansion, not slowdown.
Public vigilance demands constant tension. Numbers should push agencies to work harder, smarter, and faster. A safer online Philippines requires skepticism, even during good news.
If recorded cases fall again next year, will caution rise, or will comfort rise instead?