The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warned the public that its offices and employees do not conduct or help with personal financial transactions, following reports of scams using the central bank’s name and logo.
The BSP said individuals or groups claiming to be BSP employees or representatives should be ignored. This includes those who say they are from BSP offices that handle complaints about banks, e-money issuers, or other financial institutions. The central bank stressed that it does not assist the public in making deposits, withdrawals, or money transfers to or from personal accounts.
The BSP said it can help consumers only by receiving complaints or reports against BSP-supervised institutions through its Consumer Assistance Mechanism. If a bank is involved, affected individuals should contact the bank directly using its official contact details.
The central bank warned that scammers often use fake documents bearing the BSP name and logo. Others may pretend to be BSP representatives through emails, text messages, or phone calls. Some fraudsters claim they can open personal financial accounts for victims.
These scammers usually try to get sensitive information such as bank account numbers, passwords, or other private data. They may also ask for advance payments or fees and create a sense of urgency to pressure victims. The central bank said it will never ask anyone to transfer funds or pay for supposed charges such as anti-money laundering clearance, taxes, or insurance.
To avoid scams, the central bank advised the public to ignore anyone claiming to be connected with the central bank, not share personal or financial information, and avoid clicking links. Under central bank’s rules, banks are not allowed to send clickable links through text messages, emails, or messaging apps. Any message with a link may be a phishing attempt.
Scam incidents may be reported to the BSP through bspmail@bsp.gov.ph or by calling (02) 8811-1277 or 8811-1BSP. If an account may have been compromised, the public should immediately contact their bank or e-money issuer through official channels.
Reports may also be filed with the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation through their official websites.