Advisers

Merrill Faye M. Rubis, MSCJ

Discipline

Criminology

Abstract

Budol-budol is a prevalent form of fraud in the Philippines in which perpetrators employ deception and psychological manipulation to induce victims to surrender money, valuables, or sensitive personal information. This type of scam frequently involves the impersonation of authority figures, the presentation of fabricated emergencies or offers, and the coordination of accomplices to execute complex and elaborate schemes. Vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals, and those with limited familiarity with digital technology, are most targeted. This study utilized a quantitative research design to examine crime prevention strategies against the budol-budol modus operandi. Data were gathered through structured survey questionnaires administered to twenty-five (25) police officers and ten (10) barangay officials. The survey assessed the frequency and level of implementation of various crime prevention strategies, as well as their perceived effectiveness in preventing budol-budol incidents. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency counts, percentages, and weighted mean were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that several preventive measures are consistently implemented, with most respondents indicating a high level of effectiveness. The discoveries highlight the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and barangay officials in strengthening crime prevention efforts against budol-budol schemes. The findings show that the station implements multiple crime prevention measures such as public awareness campaigns, barangay coordination meetings, social media information drives, intensified patrol visibility, and collaboration with financial institutions and anti-cybercrime units. Overall, the study concludes that while the current strategies are generally effective, strengthening public education, inter-agency coordination, and community participation is necessary to further reduce budol-budol incidents and enhance safety. Future studies are encouraged to examine innovative approaches to the prevention of budol-budol crimes, including the use of technology-based interventions and community-driven prevention programs adapted to local conditions. Researchers should consider participatory research methods that involve scam victims and community stakeholders in the planning and execution of studies to ensure that proposed strategies reflect actual experiences and needs.

Keywords

crime prevention, Budol-Budol, Modus Operandi