By NILE DUATIN

“Our investigation indicates that these are cases of phishing.”

MANILA — Digital bank Maya is under fire after a string of phishing scams reportedly drained users’ accounts, leading to widespread complaints on social media.

In response to the backlash, Maya acknowledged the issue in a statement, revealing that the incidents were the result of phishing attacks.

Multiple users have shared alarming experiences online, claiming that their funds were stolen due to the app’s “auto cash-in” feature, which they neither authorized nor knew about.

In some cases, victims were told by Maya’s customer service that their stolen funds could not be recovered, with no refund options available.

One Facebook user recounted receiving phishing text messages months ago that were disguised as legitimate communications from Maya. Clicking on these links reportedly led to stolen funds.

“I am a victim, too. Auto cash-in ang nangyari sa savings account ko. I lost [P83,000] and [P5,000] in Maya credit. Template lang ang response nila and no refund daw,” the user wrote on social media.

Another user lamented the loss of a large sum, stating, “Goodbye [P266k]. Hanggang now wala pa rin refund or anything December 5 pa ‘to nangyari.”

In light of the growing complaints, Maya issued a statement acknowledging the phishing attacks and emphasized its cooperation with authorities to address the issue.

“We urge everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to our official channels,” Maya said in the statement.

Meanwhile, data from anti-scam app Gogolook reveals that scam calls and messages in the Philippines surged by 200 percent during the first eight months of 2024.

The Philippines continues to be a hotspot for cybercrime, with over 3.9 billion daily cyberattacks reported in the third quarter of 2023, according to Cloudflare.

CONCERNS have been raised by House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo regarding the operations of Maya Digital Savings Bank, a prominent digital savings bank in the Philippines, which also offers mobile wallet services.

This developed as Tulfo along with his colleauges from the ACT- CIS Partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, and two other lawmakers Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, filed House Resolution No. 1464 urging the Congress to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into digital banking platforms with linkages to gambling applications.

In his privilege speech on Monday, Tulfo said it has come to his attention that Maya’s platform carries links to various gambling apps that openly allows subscribers to participate in gambling activities.

These gambling apps encompass games such as baccarat, poker, bingo, fruit games, and similar forms of gaming where subscribers can place bets through Maya’s mobile wallet services.

Rep. Tulfo firmly believes that these gambling links within Maya’s savings bank platform warrant a thorough probe by the House of Representatives.

“This question strikes at the core of our responsibility as lawmakers to protect the interests of the millions of subscribers who rely on Maya Digital Savings Bank for their financial transactions and digital wallet needs,” Tulfo said.

The primary objective is to protect the interests of Maya’s millions of subscribers and assess the legality and ethics of offering such services.

Tulfo questioned whether the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is aware of Maya’s inclusion of gambling app links, stating that the investigation aims to determine if these activities comply with laws and regulations. There’s also growing concern about the presence of gambling apps within a digital savings bank’s platform and its potential impact on financial stability and consumer welfare.

Presently, there are at least six digital banks that are permitted by the BSP to operate in the country — Maya, Uno, Tonik, CIMB, Union Bank and GoTyme Bank.

Out of these six digital banks, only Maya allegedly features links to gambling apps. The inquiry also addresses whether the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) can effectively monitor and regulate these apps within the bounds of the law.

Tulfo is committed to addressing these questions through legislative channels, emphasizing transparency, legality, and consumer protection in the evolving landscape of digital banking and financial services in the Philippines.

Asked for comment, Maya, powered by Maya Philippines for digital payment solutions and Maya Bank for digital banking services, emphasized that neither company is engaged in any gambling operations.

“Maya Philippines, licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as an electronic money issuer (EMI), facilitates digital payments for numerous merchants, including a few entities accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Our services are focused on providing secure payments from all sources like credit cards and wallet cash-in facilities for eligible customers,” it said in a statement.

“We maintain strict compliance with the guidelines set by the BSP, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and PAGCOR to ensure user safety and security, promoting the responsible use of financial service technologies,” Maya added.