Scam Watch Pilipinas warned the public regarding the surge in online scams, particularly during the start of the “Ber” months.
According to Jocel De Guzman, co-founder of Scam Watch Pilipinas, there is an expected rise in spoofing scams, where fake text messages impersonate legitimate banks or e-commerce platforms offering Christmas promos and giveaways.
De Guzman also warned of scam calls from individuals pretending to be bank representatives, offering fake credit card upgrades or increased credit limits as part of supposed holiday promos.
In addition, he noted a likely increase in fraudulent e-commerce pages on social media, particularly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These fake online shops use boosted ads to promote massive holiday discounts in order to lure unsuspecting buyers into purchasing non-existent promos.
Scam Watch Pilipinas urges the public to remain vigilant, double-check links and sources, and avoid sharing sensitive personal data online, especially as the Christmas season draws near, where scammers typically become more prevalent.
