PGCash has rolled out its ‘DoubleSafe’ Face ID security feature to 100% of its fully verified users, as of May 10, 2023, blocking fraudsters from taking over the accounts of its users.
‘DoubleSafe’ uses an industry-first face recognition technology to ensure that the person accessing an account is the same as the one who registered in GCash. This means, even if users inadvertently give out their mobile personal identification number (MPIN) and one-time pin (OTP), their account still cannot be accessed from a new device without scanning the owner’s face.
The feature also looks for the user’s liveness to ensure photos can’t be used to bypass the security control.
“The face recognition feature is built within the app and doesn’t require mobile phones with high-end features. We made sure all our verified user base will have access to this security feature as we notice the prevalence of phishing attempts outside the app,” said Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operations Officer of GCash. “DoubleSafe will further protect our customer’s accounts and hard-earned money.”
Aside from this security feature, GCash has taken many actions to combat fraud.
“From January 2022 to April 2023, GCash has already blocked 3.1 million accounts that have been tagged as fraudulent. We have also taken down 722 phishing sites and 38,000 malicious social media posts and accounts from January 2022 to April 2023,” Sy explained.
Likewise, around the first week of May alone, GCash has already barred 23,000 accounts that breached parameters under the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. This means, the e-wallet monitored transactions in these accounts that are against the AMLA.
GCash actively pursues fraudsters in cooperation with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
GCash is consistently strengthening its campaign against fraudulent activities with #GSafeTayo by educating its users on how scams work and how they can be prevented. GCash will NEVER send personal messages to address concerns or get personal information, especially the MPIN and OTP. It reminds users to be wary of phishing schemes in the form of fake websites and suspicious online games. Customers are urged to only make transactions within the app.
To report scams and fraudulent activities, visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com/hc/en-us and message Gigi on the website, and type, “I want to report a scam.” Customers can also contact the official GCash hotline 2882 for queries and other concerns.
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