SEC, PPSC ramp up collaboration to fight investment scams

The SEC and PPSC conduct their first SEC CAN! Investor Protection and Scam Awareness Hybrid Webinar on August 20 at the Heroes Hall, PPSC Head Office in Quezon City.

​The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) have joined forces to combat fraudulent investment schemes by promoting financial literacy and investor education among their stakeholders.

​The SEC and PPSC on August 20 conducted the Investor Protection and Scam Awareness Hybrid Webinar, which combined a face-to-face event with an online audience in a bid to reach more Filipinos and teach them how to spot red flags in investment scams and empower them to identify, avoid and report financial fraud.
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The participants joined through a face-to-face and Webex event that gathered over 200 students, faculty, and PPSC personnel at the PPSC Head Office in Quezon City. At the same time, the online portion, streamed live through the official Facebook pages of the PPSC, SEC, and other CAMPAIGN Network partners such as the Department of Education, generated a total reach of more than 21,400.
 
“As investment scams become more sophisticated and widespread, it is more important than ever for the government to work together,” said SEC Chairperson Francis Lim in his speech during the event.
 
“The SEC values PPSC as a trusted partner under the SEC CAN!. Together, we can deliver more programs like this, that inspire action to protect communities from scams,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, PPSC President Ferdinando Sevilla highlighted the Commission’s shared role in equipping uniformed personnel and the communities with knowledge needed to strengthen consumer awareness and protection, foster organizational resilience, and build public trust.

“We have the primary duty to serve and act beyond solving the aftermath of crimes, focusing more on preventing their occurrence before they actually happen,” Mr. Sevilla said in his opening remarks.

SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department Director Filbert Catalino Flores III, who led the discussion on common investment schemes, emphasized the Commission’s proactive efforts in forging strategic partnerships nationwide, including at the barangay level, to broaden financial literacy and empower more Filipinos to protect themselves against scams.

The joint undertaking is part of the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the parties in June under the SEC Communication, Advocacy, and Network (SEC CAN!) initiative.

As the Commission’s flagship financial literacy program, SEC CAN! serves as its nationwide platform for forging partnerships to promote financial education, investor protection, and the fight against scams—working with government partners, local communities, and the private sector to build a more secure financial future for Filipinos.

Also housed under the SEC CAN! program is the Anti-Scam and Illegal Taking of Investments Group (ASTIG), where collaborations with partners are transformed into concrete action by providing training, sharing information, and equipping enforcement agencies and community leaders to recognize and respond to fraudulent investments activities.