THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced on Monday that it has initiated an investigation into the digital payment platform GCash after a series of unauthorized transactions affected users’ account balances. GCash attributed the issue to internal system errors.
In a statement, the BSP said it has directed G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), the operator of GCash, to swiftly resolve the unauthorized deductions and expedite refunds for affected users.
“The BSP has also required GXI to provide regular updates on its actions,” the statement read, adding that the central bank is working closely with the company to ensure a prompt resolution.
According to the BSP, GXI initially reported the issue as a system error. The Ayala-led company assured regulators that user accounts remain secure and that refunds are in progress.
“The BSP will continue to investigate the incident to identify any potential system vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and policies,” the central bank added.
Support for Affected Users
The BSP encouraged users impacted by the issue to coordinate directly with GCash for a prompt resolution of their concerns. For those dissatisfied with the handling of their complaints, the BSP advised that issues can be escalated via the BSP Online Buddy, accessible through the BSP Facebook Messenger (@BangkoSentralngPilipinas) or the BSP website (www.bsp.gov.ph).
GCash’s Response and Recent Developments
GCash, which has a user base of approximately 94 million, released a statement on Saturday attributing the issue to “errors in an ongoing system reconciliation process.” The company assured the public that the incidents were “isolated” and that affected accounts were secure.
This incident follows a similar one in May last year, when GCash reportedly thwarted an attempted hack targeting millions of pesos. The scheme involved small transfers from multiple accounts to two specific bank accounts, totaling an estimated P37 million.
GCash aims to expand to 10 additional countries, building on its presence in 16 markets, as it seeks to support more Filipinos overseas.