RACONTEURPH

Whoscall officially launches in the country for a scam-free Pilipinas

Picture this scenario: You're about to start your day. Your phone rings and displays an unknown number. You hesitate to answer, unsure whether it's an important call from a relative or a colleague, or just another telemarketing call or scammer attempting to take advantage of you. What could have been a peaceful morning is now filled with anxiety.

Sounds familiar? This is the situation faced by many Filipinos nowadays. Some of our countrymen have faced even more distressing experiences. Livelihoods and life savings have been lost due to the growing prevalence of scams. What's worse? Scammers continue to discover new methods to deceive people.

Whoscall, one of the leading call identification and spam-blocking apps, aims to provide a solution to this alarming crisis. This app identifies unknown numbers, blocks spam calls, and scans suspicious URLs from messages to provide comprehensive mobile protection. Armed with a range of innovative AI features and an internationally acclaimed reputation, Whoscall has finally arrived in the country to enhance our nation’s mobile security.

On August 22, 2023, in New World Hotel, Makati City, Whoscall successfully launched an event spreading its advocacy towards a Scam-Free Pilipinas. It was participated by a panel of cybersecurity experts, policymakers, and notable personalities with firsthand scam experiences including the award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila, Apol Salud, chief security and digital officer at Gur Lavi Corporation, Manny Cabanero, president of TrueMoney Philippines, Mel Migriño, chairman and president of Women in Security Alliance Philippines, Gabriel Barrios, country marketing head for the Philippines of Gogolook, tech journalist Gian Viterbo, and Aileen Montalbo, president of Rotary Club of Downtown Batangas. The event shed light on the alarming rise of fraudulent calls and messages in the Philippines. It also tackled the measures we should now collectively take to address this pressing issue.

Viterbo, a top tech influencer in the country, shared, “Maraming kababayan nating OFW ang nawalan ng ipon dahil naloko ng scammers. Huwag nating hayaang mangyari ito sa iba pa.” Montalbo, a former Batangas councilor and now the President of the Girls Scout Council in Batangas and an Ayala Youth Leader and influencer/blogger, also expressed, “These scam texts and calls are not just inconveniences. They affect our lives and our everyday security. Let's push for ways to make our nation stronger against scams."

The event host, Gelli Victor, chimed into the conversation, sharing that she, too, has encountered phishing attacks. "I've had too many of those scammers and spammers ever since the pandemic contact tracing. I still received them after I registered my SIM, even more on Whatsapp," said the newscaster and fitness professional.

Undersecretary Alexander K. Ramos from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and Colonel Joey Fontiveros, Deputy Regiment Commander Army Signal Regiment of the Philippine Army, both shared that scamming methods nowadays are becoming more advanced. This emphasizes the need for a resource like Whoscall that operates with modern intelligence and how the app’s entrance to the country is timely and relevant.

With Whoscall, users can regain control and confidence over their phone communications. The app's anti-fraud features let users make informed decisions about whether to answer or ignore calls and messages. Furthermore, individuals on the app can report suspicious numbers, empowering them to participate in this broad movement against fraudulent activities.

Gogolook, the visionary force behind Whoscall, shared what inspired them to launch the app in the country. "As fraud became more apparent during and after the pandemic, we saw how Filipinos have suffered losses from scams, much like in other countries where we have launched Whoscall, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. This reality ignited our drive to create a comprehensive life protection platform accessible to every Filipino across the nation," said Manwoo Joo, Chief Operating Officer of Gogolook.

Powered by world-leading AI and data-driven technology, Whoscall boasts the largest database in East Asia and Southeast Asia of over 2.6 billion entries to detect unknown callers, spam and scam calls and texts, and potentially harmful URLs. Its excellence was recognized with the Best App award on the App Store in 2015, and the Best App and Best Innovation awards on Google Play in 2013 and 2016. Backed by its achievements, Whoscall has established partnerships with international law enforcement agencies, such as the Thailand Police Cyber Taskforce, Hong Kong Police Force, and Malaysian Royal Police, as well as government bodies and private sectors.

In his closing remark, Gabriel Barrios, Country Marketing Head for the Philippines said, "Whoscall has been available and is the leading caller ID and scam detection app in other Asian countries like Thailand and Taiwan, accumulating 100 million downloads worldwide. It has been rolling out in other Asian countries, as well, and we’re happy to finally provide this protective service to all Filipinos. We highly encourage everyone to install it on their phones and join the community to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential risks, fraud, and scams. It's about time we all step up and unite for a Scam-Free Pilipinas!"

Whoscall is now available on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.