The National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) has sounded the alarm over a rising tide of cybercrimes targeting holiday shoppers. The agency warns that increased consumer activity during the festive season creates fertile ground for online scammers.
“This season is one of the most exploited by online criminal scammers because of the reason that everyone is giving,” said NBI-CEVRO Supervising Agent Francis Señora. He revealed that the agency is currently investigating three to four cybercrime cases daily.
Among the cybercrimes highlighted in their investigation, delivery scams top the list. Victims are often duped into paying taxes or fees for non-existent packages. Following this are fake shopping websites, which lure victims into purchasing items that are never delivered.
Another prevalent scheme is fake redemption websites. These sites promise rewards or promotional offers, but instead harvest users’ personal information. “When you try to click that link, they will ask for information… so instead of you getting a free prize, you’re giving them free information,” Señora explained.
Gift redemption scams operate in a similar manner, tricking victims into sharing sensitive data under the guise of giving gifts or prizes. Task scams, where individuals are recruited to complete simple tasks like following pages or websites, also feature prominently. Victims are asked to pay fees for higher rewards, which never materialize.
Other common cybercrimes include cryptocurrency scams, online paluwagan schemes, fake relative or friend scams, romance scams, and fraudulent loan offers.
Señora emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal information and practicing good cyber hygiene to avoid falling victim to such schemes. He also warned against using free or untrusted Wi-Fi networks, which expose devices to unauthorized access.
“The moment you have connected to a Wi-Fi, you are exposing the device for unauthorized access,” he noted.
Señora advised the public to transact only with verified online shops and to avoid installing suspicious applications. He highlighted session hijacking as a growing concern, where scammers intercept financial transactions by hijacking app sessions. “During that process, the application is sharing the credential site, and it will be collected by the scammers,” he said.
Another scheme involves fraudsters posing as bank representatives to extract sensitive information such as account details. Señora reminded the public that legitimate bank employees never request such details, as banks already have this information on file.
The transnational nature of cybercrimes complicates enforcement, Señora admitted. Criminals often operate across borders, making it challenging for authorities to track and apprehend them.
In light of the ongoing threat, Señora urged vigilance, stressing that prevention is the best defense against cybercriminals during the holiday season.
