Smart leads a SCAMpaign discussion during the CX Caravan session with the Meralco Employees and Retirees Association (MERA), promoting digital awareness and scam prevention among senior citizens.
Telecom provider Smart Communications is strengthening its digital safety efforts through SCAMpaign, an initiative aimed at educating communities—particularly senior citizens—on how to identify and avoid increasingly sophisticated online scams.
The program was recently highlighted during a CX Caravan session with the Meralco Employees and Retirees Association, where retirees discussed real-world scam scenarios, including fraudulent loan notices, phishing texts, and calls designed to extract sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs).
According to MERA President Francis Barreso, many scams succeed because they mimic legitimate communications, often creating urgency or fear to pressure victims. This growing sophistication reflects broader trends in cyber fraud, where attackers leverage familiar messaging formats to bypass suspicion.
SCAMpaign focuses on building practical digital habits, such as avoiding unknown numbers, not sharing personal information, and verifying suspicious links before engaging. The initiative is part of a wider push to improve digital literacy and resilience, especially among older users who increasingly rely on mobile devices for banking, communication, and essential services.
Kristine Generalao emphasized that digital trust is now a core component of customer experience, as telecom providers expand their role beyond connectivity to include user protection in an evolving threat landscape.
The campaign aligns with the broader #BeCyberSmart initiative of the PLDT Group, reinforcing industry-wide efforts to combat online scams through awareness, education, and proactive engagement.
As cyber threats grow more advanced, initiatives like SCAMpaign highlight the importance of combining technology, education, and community outreach to safeguard vulnerable sectors and strengthen digital trust in the Philippines.
