CyberCode.ph · Philippines

Scammed on TikTok? Your Rights, Where to Report and How to Get Help in the Philippines

Last updated October 5, 2026 · Practical privacy, cybersecurity and technology-law guidance
Hand holding a smartphone against a dark background, illustrating social media scams and where Filipino victims can report them

Jurisdiction: Philippines · By the Cybercode.ph Editorial Team

Direct Answer: If you were scammed on TikTok, act in this order: stop paying, call your bank or e-wallet immediately to try to stop or trace the transfer, save the evidence before anything is deleted, report the account inside TikTok, then report to the government. For online-selling and other scams you can call the government’s Inter-Agency Response Center hotline 1326; for a criminal case go to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or the NBI Cybercrime Division; for a seller or marketplace dispute file with the DTI; for a bank or e-wallet that will not help, escalate to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). TikTok’s own action is a platform remedy, not your only one.

Key Takeaways

  • Speed matters more than anything else. The first call is to your bank or e-wallet, not to TikTok. Money that has not yet moved on is the easiest to stop.
  • A TikTok scam is usually a crime under Philippine law. Depending on the facts it can be estafa committed through ICT, computer-related fraud or computer-related identity theft under Republic Act No. 10175, or an offence under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (RA 12010).
  • Buyers have consumer rights online. The Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (RA 11967) covers online merchants and digital platforms, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) accepts complaints against online sellers.
  • TikTok doing nothing does not end your options. The escalation ladder runs from TikTok to your bank or e-wallet, then to the DTI, BSP, SEC or National Privacy Commission depending on the problem, and to the police or NBI for a criminal case.
  • Save evidence before you block or report. Blocking a scammer or having their account removed can make chats and profile details harder to retrieve later.
  • Beware the second scam. People who promise to recover your money for a fee are a common follow-up fraud. Do not pay an unsolicited recovery agent. Check any official filing fees directly with the receiving agency; the NPC complaint page links its official fee schedule.

Jump to a Section

Decision Snapshot

Question Practical answer
Is being scammed on TikTok a crime in the Philippines? Usually yes. Fraud committed online can fall under estafa, RA 10175 and, for account-related schemes, RA 12010.
Who should I call first? Your bank or e-wallet, to report the transaction and ask what can be held or traced.
Can TikTok refund me? Only for orders placed and paid through TikTok Shop, under TikTok Shop’s own return and refund process. Money sent outside TikTok is not something TikTok can reverse.
Is there one government hotline? Yes, 1326, the Inter-Agency Response Center hotline, for online-selling scams, impersonation, phishing, investment fraud and similar reports.
Where do I file a criminal complaint? PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or the NBI Cybercrime Division, then the prosecutor.
Where do I complain about a seller? DTI, through its Consumer CARe portal, email or the eReport feature of the eGovPH app.
What if my bank or e-wallet will not help? Escalate to the BSP through BSP Online Buddy after complaining to the institution.
What if it was a fake investment? Report it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as to law enforcement.
Do I need a lawyer? Not to report. A lawyer helps if you file a criminal case or sue for recovery.

Common TikTok Scams and the Law That May Apply

TikTok scams are rarely new crimes. They are old frauds — false pretences, impersonation, fake investments — delivered through short videos, LIVEs, comments and direct messages. The table below maps the patterns most often reported to the legal category that usually fits. Which law actually applies depends on the facts.

Scam How it usually works Laws that may apply
Fake seller or off-platform payment A seller advertises in a video or LIVE, then asks you to message them and pay by e-wallet or bank transfer instead of through TikTok Shop checkout. The item never arrives. Estafa (Revised Penal Code Art. 315, as amended by RA 10951) via RA 10175 Sec. 6; RA 11967 for online-merchant duties
Task or “like-and-earn” job scam You are paid small amounts to like, follow or watch videos, then asked to deposit money to unlock bigger tasks. Withdrawals fail and new fees appear. The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group warned of a surge in these in September 2023. Estafa; RA 10175 computer-related fraud; SEC rules if framed as an investment
Investment or crypto “signals” An account shows fake profits and invites you to a group chat or app promising fixed returns. Securities Regulation Code (SEC jurisdiction); estafa; RA 10175
Celebrity or brand impersonation, including deepfakes A fake account or AI-generated video of a public figure or company promotes a giveaway, product or investment. RA 10175 Sec. 4(b)(3) computer-related identity theft; estafa; see our deepfake guide
Fake giveaway or prize You “won” and must pay a shipping, tax or processing fee, or share an OTP to claim. Estafa; RA 12010 social engineering if account credentials are obtained
Fake customer service or account recovery Someone posing as TikTok, a bank or an e-wallet asks for your OTP, password or a “verification” payment. RA 12010 (social engineering); RA 10175 illegal access and identity theft
Fake government aid Pages or accounts promise ayuda or educational assistance and collect personal data or fees. The DSWD warned against such TikTok and social media pages in July 2024. Estafa; RA 10175 identity theft; Data Privacy Act if personal data is misused
Romance or friendship scam A new online contact builds trust, then asks for money for an emergency, travel or an “investment”. Estafa; see our catfishing guide
Sextortion After intimate exchanges, the scammer threatens to share images unless paid. RA 10175; RA 9995; RA 11313 Sec. 12; see our sextortion guide
Money mule recruitment You are offered money to “rent” your e-wallet or bank account or to receive and forward funds. RA 12010 penalises money muling — the person lending the account can be liable, not only the scammer

What to Do in the First Hour

The steps below are ordered by what is most time-sensitive. Contact the payment provider promptly and preserve evidence. If there are threats or immediate danger, seek police assistance without waiting to finish the other steps.

  1. Stop all payments and contact. Do not send a “release fee”, “tax” or “unlock deposit” to get earlier money back. That is how most task and investment scams grow.
  2. Call your bank or e-wallet now. Use the number printed on your card or inside the official app — never a number the scammer gave you. Give the date, time, amount, reference number and the recipient account. Ask them to flag the recipient and tell you, in writing, what they can hold or trace. Note the ticket or reference number they give you.
  3. Secure your own accounts. If you shared a password or OTP, change your TikTok, email and e-wallet passwords from a clean device, turn on two-step verification, and log out other sessions. If your SIM may have been taken over, see our SIM-swap guide.
  4. Save the evidence — see the list below — before you block the account or report it.
  5. Report the account and content inside TikTok so it can be reviewed and, ideally, removed before it reaches others.
  6. Report to the government. Call 1326 for guidance and logging, and file with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or the NBI if you want a criminal case. Add the DTI, BSP, SEC or NPC where the table further down says so.
  7. Warn people close to you if your account was taken over, so they do not pay a scammer using your name.

What NOT to Do

  • Do not pay a recovery agent. Accounts that comment “I got my money back, message this hacker” are frequently the same fraud a second time.
  • Do not delete the chat or the app in anger. Deleting can remove the only copy of the conversation you control.
  • Do not edit, crop or annotate your original screenshots. Make a copy if you want to mark something up; keep the original untouched.
  • Do not share your OTP, PIN or password with anyone who calls about the case — including people who say they are from the police, the BSP, your bank or TikTok.
  • Do not publicly accuse a named person in a post before the facts are clear. A mistaken accusation posted online can itself create legal exposure under the cyber libel provision of RA 10175.
  • Do not agree to receive and forward money for anyone to “help trace” the scam. That can make you a money mule under RA 12010.

Evidence to Save Before Anything Is Deleted

A complaint is only as strong as the records behind it. Save these as soon as you can, ideally on a computer or cloud folder as well as your phone. Our general online scam evidence checklist covers the principles; below is the TikTok-specific version.

What to save How Why it matters
The scammer’s profile Screenshot the profile showing the @username (handle), display name, profile photo and follower count. Copy the profile link using TikTok’s Share button. Display names change easily; the @username and profile link identify the account for TikTok and investigators.
The video, LIVE or ad that hooked you Copy the video link; screen-record if possible; note the date and time you saw it. Shows the misrepresentation that induced you to pay.
Direct messages and comments Screenshot the full conversation, scrolling so every message and timestamp is captured. Screen-record the scroll as a backup. Shows the promises made and the payment instructions.
Chats that moved off TikTok Screenshots and exported chat history from Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber or SMS, with the scammer’s number or username visible. Many TikTok scams finish on another app; that app’s records are part of the same case.
Payment proof E-wallet or bank receipts showing reference number, amount, date, time, and the recipient’s name and account or mobile number. This is what lets a bank, e-wallet or investigator trace the money.
Order records (TikTok Shop) Order number, product page, seller name, chat with the seller, courier tracking, and photos or an unboxing video of what arrived. Needed for a TikTok Shop dispute and a DTI complaint.
Your report receipts Screenshots of TikTok report confirmations, bank or e-wallet ticket numbers, and any agency reference numbers. Proves you acted promptly and lets each office find your case.
A written timeline One page: what happened, in date order, with amounts. Investigators and prosecutors will ask for exactly this.

Preserve originals. Do not alter, crop or overwrite original files. Keep the phone that holds the conversation. Section 13 of RA 10175 requires service providers to preserve traffic data and subscriber information for a minimum of six months from the date of the transaction, and content data for six months from receipt of a law-enforcement preservation order. That is one more reason to report promptly rather than months later.

Your Rights Under Philippine Law

Several laws protect you at the same time. Which ones matter depends on whether you were a buyer, a financial consumer, a data subject, or simply the victim of a crime — and often you are all four.

As the victim of a crime

Online fraud is prosecuted mainly as estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, whose penalty scale was updated by Republic Act No. 10951. When a crime under the Revised Penal Code is committed through information and communications technology, Section 6 of RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, provides that the penalty shall be one degree higher. RA 10175 also defines computer-related fraud (Sec. 4(b)(2)) and computer-related identity theft (Sec. 4(b)(3)), which cover many impersonation and account-takeover scams. Section 10 of RA 10175 gives enforcement to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Our online estafa guide explains when a scam becomes a criminal case.

As a financial consumer

If the money moved through a bank or e-wallet, two more laws apply whatever app the scam started on: the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (RA 12010), approved on 20 July 2024, which penalises money muling and social engineering schemes, and the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (RA 11765), under which your bank or e-wallet must handle your complaint. They work the same way for a TikTok scam as for any other, so the detail sits in our guides on unauthorised e-wallet and bank transactions and digital payment consumer rights: what the provider must do, how quickly, and how to escalate to the BSP.

As an online buyer

Republic Act No. 11967, the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, was approved on 5 December 2023 to protect consumers and merchants in internet transactions and to create an Electronic Commerce Bureau under the DTI. According to the DTI, as reported by the Philippine News Agency in June 2025, the law allows the DTI to issue takedown orders against listings for illegal goods or services, and digital platforms can be held solidarily liable with sellers if they fail to act on illicit activity. Its implementing rules were issued as Joint Administrative Order No. 24-03. See our Internet Transactions Act guide for merchant and platform duties.

As a data subject

If a scammer used your photos, name or ID, or if TikTok or a seller mishandled your personal information, the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) gives you rights over that data, enforced by the National Privacy Commission (NPC). Under Rule II, Section 2 of the NPC’s 2021 Rules of Procedure, as amended, you must first raise the matter in writing with the organisation concerned and give it 15 calendar days to act before filing a complaint with the Commission.

As a victim of online harassment or impersonation

Section 12 of the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) treats gender-based online sexual harassment as including “impersonating identities of victims online or posting lies about victims to harm their reputation”. Section 13 designates the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to receive these complaints. This is relevant where a scam turns into threats, sextortion or impersonation of the victim.

How to Report a Scam to TikTok

TikTok’s Help Center provides separate reporting flows for a post, an account, a LIVE, a direct message, a comment and an impersonation account. Use the one that matches what you saw — reporting the account and the specific video or message together gives reviewers the clearest picture. In general, open the item, tap the Share arrow or the three-dot menu, choose Report, and pick the fraud or scam reason offered.

For problems that do not fit a single post or account — a TikTok Shop order, a hacked account, or a report you want to follow up — TikTok’s Help Center describes this route:

  1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
  2. Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
  3. Tap Report a problem, choose a topic and subtopic, and follow the suggested steps.
  4. If the steps do not resolve it, answer No to “Is your problem resolved?”, tap Need more help?, or scroll down and tap Chat with us to reach TikTok’s helpdesk.

TikTok also says you can contact it through its online reporting form, which is useful if you have been locked out of your account or do not use the app. Screenshot every report confirmation.

Be realistic about what a TikTok report does. It can lead to content removal or an account ban, and it helps TikTok spot patterns. It does not, on its own, return money you sent outside TikTok, and it is not a criminal complaint. Report to TikTok and to the authorities.

Where to Report: Which Agency for Which Problem

You can report to more than one office. Each handles a different part of the problem, and telling each one that you also reported elsewhere (with reference numbers) is helpful, not a conflict.

Your situation Where to go How to reach them
Any online scam — first report, guidance, logging Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC), involving the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), DICT, NPC and NTC Hotline 1326, described in a December 2025 government release as the government’s 24/7 number for online selling scams, impersonation, investment fraud, phishing and similar reports
You want a criminal case filed PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) or NBI Cybercrime Division acg.pnp.gov.ph; nbi.gov.ph; see our NBI complaint guide and how to report cybercrime
A seller did not deliver, sent a fake or defective item, or misrepresented a product Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Portal consumercare.dti.gov.ph; email consumercare@dti.gov.ph or fteb@dti.gov.ph; tel. (02) 7215 1165; mobile 0917 137 3796; or the eReport feature in the eGovPH app
Your bank or e-wallet will not act on an unauthorised or scam transfer Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Consumer Assistance Complain to the institution first, then use BSP Online Buddy (BOB) at bsp.gov.ph; our unauthorised e-wallet transaction guide sets out the steps
A fake investment, crypto “trading” or task scheme presented as an investment Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Through the SEC’s official website, sec.gov.ph, plus a criminal report to PNP-ACG or NBI
Your personal data, photos or ID were misused, or a company ignored your data request National Privacy Commission (NPC) After writing to the organisation and waiting 15 calendar days (NPC Rules of Procedure, Rule II Sec. 2), file a notarised complaint-affidavit following the NPC’s filing instructions
Threats, sextortion or online sexual harassment PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Designated by RA 11313 Sec. 13 to receive gender-based online sexual harassment complaints
Scam texts or calls linked to the TikTok scam Your mobile network and hotline 1326 See our text and SMS scam guide

The CICC coordinates the government’s anti-cybercrime effort but is not itself the investigating or prosecuting office; our CICC guide explains the difference. For the full criminal complaint process step by step, see our online scam complaint procedure.

If TikTok Does Nothing: Your Escalation Ladder

A report that goes unanswered, or a reply saying the account “does not violate our guidelines”, is common. It does not close your case. Work up this ladder, keeping every reference number:

  1. Re-report with better detail. Report the specific video, message and account separately, choose the most precise reason (impersonation, fraud or scam), and use Report a problem → Chat with us to ask for a human review. Attach your evidence where the form allows.
  2. Escalate the money side to your bank or e-wallet — this does not depend on TikTok at all. If the institution does not resolve your complaint, escalate to the BSP through BSP Online Buddy; our digital payment consumer rights guide explains that route.
  3. If it was a TikTok Shop order, use the dispute or return-and-refund option on the order. If TikTok Shop refuses without a proper reason, file with the DTI: the Internet Transactions Act and its rules place duties on digital platforms as well as on sellers, and the DTI has said platforms can be held solidarily liable if they fail to act on illicit activity.
  4. Ask a government agency to flag the content. Government bodies can refer content to platforms. In December 2025 the SEC and TikTok signed a memorandum of understanding on public education against financial scams, and the SEC said it would flag suspected investment-scam content to TikTok. For online-selling scams, report through 1326 and the DTI, which under RA 11967 can issue takedown orders.
  5. File the criminal complaint with PNP-ACG or the NBI. Investigators can seek court-issued cybercrime warrants to obtain subscriber and traffic data from service providers — information that TikTok will not hand to an individual user.
  6. If personal data is involved, write to TikTok as the organisation processing your data, wait 15 calendar days, and then file with the NPC if it fails to respond or act.
  7. Consider a civil case to recover money from an identified scammer, with the help of a lawyer or a free legal aid office if you qualify.

Can You Get Your Money Back?

Sometimes, but not always, and speed is the biggest factor. Recovery is most realistic in three situations:

  • The payment went through TikTok Shop checkout. TikTok Shop has its own return and refund process for orders placed and paid on the platform. This is the strongest reason never to pay a TikTok seller outside checkout.
  • You reported to your bank or e-wallet quickly and the funds were still in the recipient account. Institutions can flag and investigate recipient accounts; our guide to unauthorised e-wallet transactions explains what the provider must do and how to escalate.
  • The scammer is identified and a criminal or civil case proceeds. A criminal conviction for estafa can include civil liability to return what was taken, and you can also sue directly for a sum of money.

Recovery is hardest where the money was converted to cryptocurrency, moved through many mule accounts, or sent abroad. That is why the first-hour steps above put the bank call first. Our guides on GCash scams and the AFASA cover the e-wallet side in more detail.

TikTok Shop Problems: Non-Delivery, Fakes and Refunds

A TikTok Shop order is different from a deal struck in DMs, because it happened inside a platform that controls the payment.

  • Use the order page first, and watch TikTok Shop’s own clock. Request a return, refund or cancellation from the order itself. Under TikTok Shop’s Philippine return and refund rules, a buyer can raise a request within 15 calendar days after the order status changes to “Delivered” for TikTok Shop Mall purchases, and within 6 calendar days for other purchases (TikTok Shop Seller Center, Returns and Refunds, updated 9 July 2026). These are platform contract terms, not periods set by Philippine law, and TikTok can change them, so check the window shown on your own order.
  • Non-receipt counts. TikTok Shop’s seller guidance lists non-receipt, wrong or incomplete items, defective items and misleading descriptions among the situations in which a buyer may ask for a return or refund (TikTok Shop Seller Center). If the order shows “Delivered” but nothing arrived, raise a non-receipt request before the window closes.
  • Record the unboxing. A continuous video from sealed parcel to item is the strongest proof of a wrong, empty or counterfeit delivery.
  • Keep all seller communication inside TikTok. A seller who asks you to cancel the order and pay directly “for a discount” is removing your buyer protection.
  • Escalate to the DTI if the seller and the platform do not resolve it. For counterfeit goods specifically, see our guide to reporting counterfeit products online.

How to Protect Yourself on TikTok

No setting makes you scam-proof, but these habits reduce the likelihood of losing money or your account. The BSP’s public “Check, Protect, Report” reminder captures the core: verify who you are dealing with, never share OTPs or PINs, and report suspicious activity to your bank or e-wallet immediately.

Essential

  • Buy only through TikTok Shop checkout, never by direct transfer to a seller you met in comments, DMs or a LIVE.
  • Never share an OTP, PIN or password — not with “TikTok support”, a courier, a bank officer or a government caller.
  • Turn on two-step verification for TikTok and the email or phone number linked to it.
  • Treat “earn by liking videos” offers as scams. Legitimate jobs do not require you to deposit money to unlock pay.
  • Check investment offers with the SEC before sending anything. Guaranteed returns and pressure to recruit others are standard red flags.
  • Never lend your e-wallet or bank account to receive money for someone else.

Recommended

  • Check a seller’s account age, reviews and whether the account name matches the business name shown at checkout.
  • Be sceptical of celebrity endorsements in ads and videos; AI-generated likenesses are increasingly used in scams.
  • Verify government aid only through the agency’s official website or verified page. The DSWD has said legitimate assistance involves interviews and assessments, not social media sign-ups.

For parents and teens

  • Talk about gift and coin scams, “free” in-game currency offers, and strangers moving chats to other apps.
  • Review who can message and duet with a child’s account in TikTok’s privacy settings.

Real-World Scenarios

1. The LIVE seller who wanted GCash. A buyer watched a LIVE selling phones at a low price. The host told viewers to message for a “mine” slot and pay by GCash to confirm. After payment, the account blocked the buyer. What to do: call GCash through the official app with the reference number, save the LIVE link, profile and DMs, report the account in TikTok, and call 1326. Because no TikTok Shop order exists, TikTok Shop’s refund process does not apply; this is an estafa complaint for PNP-ACG or the NBI, and a DTI complaint against the seller.

2. The task job. A student was paid ₱150 for liking videos, then asked to deposit ₱2,000 to reach the next level, then ₱10,000 to withdraw. What to do: stop paying immediately — each new fee is part of the scheme. Report the recipient accounts to the e-wallet, file with PNP-ACG, and report to the SEC if it was presented as an investment or earnings package.

3. The fake TikTok Shop refund. After a genuine order, a caller claiming to be TikTok Shop said a refund was due and asked for an OTP to “process it”. The buyer’s e-wallet was then emptied. What to do: this is social engineering covered by RA 12010. Lock the e-wallet, report to the provider at once, escalate to the BSP if unresolved, and file with PNP-ACG or the NBI.

4. The deepfake investment ad. A video appeared to show a well-known personality endorsing a crypto platform. What to do: report the video as impersonation and fraud in TikTok, report to the SEC, and keep the link. If the person impersonated is you, see our deepfake guide and identity theft guide.

5. TikTok says no violation. A victim reported a scam account twice and was told it did not break the rules. What to do: this does not affect the criminal or consumer case. File with PNP-ACG or the NBI and the DTI, cite the TikTok report confirmations, and let the agency pursue the platform. Keep watching the account and screenshot any new victims’ comments.

6. Your account was hacked and used to scam friends. What to do: recover the account through TikTok’s Report a problem flow, post from another account or message friends directly to warn them, and report to PNP-ACG. You are a victim of illegal access and identity theft, not a participant; keep evidence showing when you lost control of the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a TikTok scam a crime in the Philippines?

Usually yes. Obtaining money through deceit online is typically prosecuted as estafa, with the penalty one degree higher when committed through ICT under Section 6 of RA 10175. Impersonation and account takeover can also be computer-related identity theft, and account-related schemes can fall under RA 12010.

Will TikTok refund money I sent to a scammer?

TikTok can process refunds only for TikTok Shop orders under its return and refund process. It cannot reverse a GCash, Maya or bank transfer you made outside the platform. For those, go to your bank or e-wallet immediately.

What is the fastest government hotline for a TikTok scam?

1326, the Inter-Agency Response Center hotline, which accepts reports of online selling scams, impersonation, phishing and investment fraud. For a criminal case you still need to file with PNP-ACG or the NBI.

Can I file a complaint against TikTok itself?

Depending on the problem, yes. If a TikTok Shop dispute is mishandled, the DTI handles complaints under the Internet Transactions Act, which places duties on digital platforms. If TikTok mishandled your personal data or ignored a data request, you can go to the NPC after the 15-day waiting period.

Do I need a lawyer to report a scam?

No. You can report to TikTok, your bank, 1326, the DTI and the police yourself. A lawyer is useful when you file a criminal complaint before a prosecutor or sue for recovery.

How long do I have to report?

Report as soon as possible. Legal deadlines for filing criminal cases vary by offence, but the practical deadline is much shorter: under RA 10175 Sec. 13 service providers must keep traffic data and subscriber information for at least six months from the transaction, and money is hardest to trace once it has moved.

Can I be liable if a scammer used my e-wallet?

If you knowingly lent, sold or rented your account, yes — RA 12010 penalises money muling. If your account was hacked, you are a victim; report it immediately and keep proof of when you lost control.

What if the scammer is abroad?

Still report. RA 10175 provides for international cooperation through the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, and platform and payment records often lead back to local accounts even when the organisers are overseas.

Is it safe to name the scammer in a public post?

Warnings are understandable, but a mistaken or exaggerated accusation posted online can expose you to a cyber libel complaint. Share the facts you can prove, and let the agencies do the naming.

Someone offered to recover my money for a fee. Is that legitimate?

Treat it as a scam. Do not send money or credentials to an unsolicited recovery service. Ask your payment provider about available recovery options, and check any official complaint fees directly with the receiving agency.

Official Sources

Cybercode.ph provides general educational information about technology, cybersecurity, privacy, and related legal issues. It is not a substitute for legal, cybersecurity, or professional advice for a specific situation.

Sources rechecked as of: 5 October 2026

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