27/04/2026
Last April 14, we were grateful to join Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines Inc. (CLAP) at this year's symposium, and the conversation is still resonating.
On the panel "The Defence Triad: Harmonising Tech, Operations, and Regulation", our CEO Dennis Martin led a discussion between regulators, legal practitioners, and fintech leaders on one of the most pressing challenges facing the Philippine financial sector today, the escalating threat of cybercrime and financial scams.
Five takeaways:
→ 70% of cybercrime complaints in the Philippines are financial scams. That is where the industry needs to focus next.
→ Regulation is the foundation, not the ceiling. Technology is the shield, and it has to keep getting sharpened. Operations is where everything holds or falls apart.
→ AI-driven fraud is not a future concern. Deepfakes have moved beyond human detection, and the industry must now use AI to defend against AI.
→ AFASA is a landmark step that allows financial institutions to share fraud data without fear. Implementation gaps remain, and the private sector has a real window to help shape how it works in practice.
→ Consumer education is the last line of defence. Regulation alone cannot protect people who are not aware.
In his closing remarks, Dennis said, "Regulation is not the ceiling. It is the foundation. The fraud ecosystem exploits every seam between legislation, technology, and operations, and so our defence must leave no seams."
Proud to stand alongside Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center - CICC, Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the broader CLAP community in this work. Defending against financial fraud is daily work, and one we are committed to it.