HOLIDAY shoppers and gift-givers should stay vigilant as cybercriminals intensify fraudulent schemes during the Christmas season, exploiting Filipinos’ generosity and yearend spending.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Scam Watch Pilipinas, and anti-scam technology firm Gogolook have identified 12 prevalent fraud schemes that pose heightened risks to consumers during the holidays.
‘The list is ongoing, these are the modus we see all year round, it’s just that their prevalence is different by season,’ said CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso. ‘Every Filipino should now be aware about these types of scams, that’s why we are intensifying our education campaign.’
The top 12 scams are Online Shopping Scam, Fake Delivery Scam, Call Scam, Task/Job Scam, Investment Scam, Love Scam, Loan Scam, Impersonation Scam, Travel Scam, Charity Scam, Middleman Scam, and Online Gambling Scam.
Season of shopping
According to Scam Watch Pilipinas Convenor Jocel de Guzman, the number 1 scam to watch out for this holiday season is the online shopping scam. This type of scam now has ‘two phases’-fraudsters operating a fake Facebook account or page that mimic legitimate stores and cases of deceiving, wrong, or fake items.
Fake Delivery Scams no longer rely solely on phishing links. Fraudsters are now exploiting cash-on-delivery services, with some using ‘pabili’ services to victimize delivery riders, while other dishonest riders perpetrate scams themselves.
Unsolicited calls, messages
Call Scams are expected to surge, driven by ‘remnants’ of illegal online gambling operations dismantled in 2023. These well-trained groups of seven to 10 people typically offer unsolicited credit card updates or other financial services.
Task and Job Scams continue circulating on Viber and WhatsApp, offering easy money for simple tasks but ultimately stealing personal information or upfront payments from job seekers.
Holiday romance
Consumers seeking companionship online face particular risks. Love Scams have become the entry point for investment fraud, with scammers building romantic relationships before requesting financial help or pitching bogus investment opportunities.
Victims are typically aged 45 and older, especially those who are widowed or separated. The red flags include requests for money and appeals to pity, with scammers often posing as foreigners.
Investment Scams have evolved from directly offering unlicensed cryptocurrency, foreign exchange, and gold trading platforms. Now, fraudsters use romance as a gateway, then target victims’ relatives, classmates, and social circles.
Financial traps
Loan Scams have graduated beyond simple processing fee schemes. Illegal online lending apps, often unavailable on legitimate app stores, now request access to borrowers’ contact lists and charge excessive interest rates.
These operations primarily target lower-income groups and online gambling addicts, often resorting to harassment for collection.
Impersonation Scams through Facebook account hijacking have created what De Guzman called a ‘scamdemic.’ Fraudsters contact victims’ Messenger friends, mimicking their writing style to request money.
Online Gambling Scams involve illegal gambling websites, which target those that want to make ‘easy’ money from placing bets. This has ‘declined by 93 percent’ but is still very much present.
Holiday-themed scams
The last few schemes are designed to specifically target the Filipino spirit of generosity.
Travel Scams lure bargain-hunters with fake promotional offers for holiday trips or fraudulent ticket sellers.
Charity Scams exploit Filipinos’ spirit of giving, with criminals posing as legitimate foundations or charitable organizations collecting donations.
Middleman Scams involve fraudsters pretending to be trusted intermediaries in legitimate transactions, typically stealing money from both buyers and sellers.
Be stingy, skeptical
Authorities are urging Filipinos to adopt the 4Ms of the #KontraScamAttitude this holiday season: be stingy with personal information and money (magdamot); be skeptical of offers (magduda); ignore and block suspicious messages (mang-isnab); and report scams to the CICC hotline at 1326 (magsumbong sa 1326).
Paraiso emphasized a whole-of-government approach to combat these threats, with partnerships between CICC, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation making it easier to apprehend perpetrators.