CICC, Scam Watch list online shopping, fake delivery scams as top threats this holiday season

Online shopping and fake delivery scams have been identified as the top threats for Filipinos this holiday season, according to the newly released "12 Scams of Christmas" list by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and Scam Watch Pilipinas.

This annual campaign, now in its third year, compiles data from complaints filed through the national anti-scam hotline 1326, Scam Watch reports, and information from government and private collaborators.

The list highlights twelve prevalent types of scams, with online shopping and fake delivery schemes topping the list due to a surge in fraudulent activities following major online sales events.

These online shopping scams often involve deceptive practices such as fake seller accounts on social media, counterfeit websites, and the sale of non-existent or misrepresented products.

Other significant scams on the list include call scams, task/job scams, investment scams, love scams, loan scams, impersonation scams, travel scams, charity scams, middleman scams, and online gambling scams.