Numerous GCash users took to social media on Saturday to report unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, with losses reaching thousands of pesos. Among those affected was actress-comedienne Pokwang, who revealed that nearly 30 unknown numbers accessed her funds. She questioned the effectiveness of the SIM Registration Act, designed to reduce cybercrimes, asking, “What happened to the registered SIM policy?”
The digital rights group, Digital Pinoys, has called on GCash to promptly reimburse affected customers. Ronald Gustilo, the group’s national campaigner, stressed that the recurring issue undermines trust in e-wallets. He also advised users to avoid keeping large sums in their accounts, noting that e-wallet funds lack the insurance protections offered by banks.
GCash responded by acknowledging that a “system reconciliation” process error impacted a small number of users. The platform assured that it has reached out to affected individuals and is actively adjusting their accounts to rectify any discrepancies.