INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) is conducting its own probe on the GCash mess, which resulted in unauthorized deductions in its users’ account balances.
DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy on Friday said the department’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is leading the probe to check circumstances in the incident, saying the agency has received several complaints about the digital payment platform even before the incident.
“Medyo marami at iba-ibang panahon po na nangyari ito [This has happened many times before at different dates],” he said when asked if the DICT has received complaints regarding GCash.
“So we’re looking into it whether it’s a breach, a leak, or a hack or a phishing,” Uy added.
Even though GCash has said that there was no hacking in the incident, Uy said this has to be investigated by proper authorities “to ascertain if what they’re saying is true.”
“Medyo self-serving if ever they are the ones who will do the explanation. I think an independent group has to look into it and see that really happened,” he said.
“I think an independent group has to look into it and see what really happened,” Uy added.
He said they will also look into whether or not there were lapses in their security system and make recommendations on the firms operating this.
Uy said users affected by the incident may file claims regarding their lost funds from GCash so the platform could determine if these are authentic.
He advised the public not to give their personal details through text messaging and to not log in with their credentials through web pages or links sent to them.
Transactions must be done on the bank or e-wallet’s platform or app.
“Kung ang loss ay dahil sa pabaya ng GCash, dapat bayaran yan ng GCash. Kung pabaya ay nasa user, wala nang kinalaman ang GCash diyan,” the DICT chief said.
(If the loss was because GCash was remiss, the firm should pay for that. But it is due to the user, GCash can’t do anything about it.)
GCash earlier said its systems were not hacked following an investigation. The digital payment platform also insisted no funds are missing as it returned money to the accounts of affected customers.
The National Privacy Commission has also ordered GCash to explain the incident and set a meeting on Friday with officials of the firm.
RELATED STORIES:
GCash ‘steps up’ ties with authorities to crack down on online scams