The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has adopted the Anti-Scam Quad Model as the country’s official anti-scam education and awareness strategy. The framework was created by Scam Watch Pilipinas, which aims to guide nationwide efforts to protect Filipinos from online fraud at no extra cost to the government.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency chose to use the existing model instead of building a new one. He explained that the move is anchored on public-private collaboration and positions the Philippines as a regional leader in scam awareness. The goal is to equip citizens with both knowledge and instinctive habits to fight fraud.
The Quad Model has four parts:
- Behavioral change through the “Kontra-Scam Attitude,” which promotes four habits:
Magdamot (be stingy with personal info)
Magduda (doubt unsolicited offers)
Mang-isnab (ignore suspicious messages)
Magsumbong sa 1326 (report scams to the hotline) - Volunteer advocates trained to spread awareness in schools, workplaces, and communities
- Coordination among government, law enforcement, banks, telcos, tech platforms, and civil society
- Technology-enabled reporting to make scam reporting easier through digital channels
The model has already gained global recognition, placing second in the Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s Scam Fighter Awards in 2025. Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman said prevention should focus on building instinctive behaviors, not just warnings about new scams. He added that enforcement alone cannot keep up with the fast-changing tactics of online fraudsters.
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With DICT’s adoption, the Anti-Scam Quad Model will now serve as the government’s playbook for scam prevention.
