In an effort to fortify consumer protection in the digital sphere, SM Supermalls, in collaboration with several government agencies, advocacy groups, and Meta, embarked on a pioneering initiative, aligning with the Be WAIS at Magduda campaign against fraud and scams.
The launch event, held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 11, 2024, marked the beginning of a concerted effort led by advocacy groups Bayan Academy and CitizenWatch Philippines to raise awareness about online fraud risks and equip consumers with the tools to identify and evade fraudulent activities prevalent in the digital landscape.
SM Supermalls affirmed the significance of the partnership in amplifying the campaign’s message. “SM’s partnership with Meta, advocacy groups, and the government sector is one of our efforts to create a digital space as secure as our physical malls, and we are proud to amplify the Be WAIS message to protect Filipinos from these online dangers,” said SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing Joaquin San Agustin.
The Philippines topped the list for online shopping scam rates in the 2023 Asia Scam Report, a survey conducted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance in partnership with the Taiwan-based tech security company Gogolook.
(L-R): Meta Vertical Lead Gino Pineda, SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Director for Economic Development and Governance Eric Florimon-Reed, CitizenWatch Co-Lead Convener Kit Belmonte, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Meta Head for Public Policy Claire Amador, Bayan Academy Chairman Jay Bernardo, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Cybersecurity Advocacy and Events Lead Christine Apple Pre, Meta Head of Asia-Pacific (APAC) Policies and Campaigns Shanti Alexander, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Bryant Fernandez, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Officer-in-Charge of Consumer Advocacy Vivian Alacardo 
SM Supermalls’ senior vice president for marketing Joaquin San Agustin 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office-in-charge of consumer advocacy Vivian Alacardo 
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) cybersecurity advocacy and events lead Christine Apple Pre 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Bryant Fernandez 
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac 
Bayan Academy chairman Jay Bernardo 
CitizenWatch Philippines co-lead convener Kit Belmonte 
Meta head of Asia-Pacific (APAC) Policies and Campaigns Shanti Alexander 
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Deputy Director for Economic Development and Governance Eric Florimon-Reed
The multi-sectoral collaboration is a testament to their unwavering commitment to fostering digital safety and safeguarding Filipino consumers from the pervasive threat of online scams.
The Be WAIS at Magduda campaign serves as a call for vigilance and skepticism, urging Filipinos to exercise caution and discernment in their online transactions. Through strategic alliances and concerted efforts, SM Supermalls is helping reshape the digital shopping landscape, fostering a secure and trustworthy online ecosystem for all.
To know more about SM Supermalls’ efforts and partnerships promoting consumer protection and welfare, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.