Online scams decline this holiday season, arrested scammers rise - CICC

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Sunday noted a decline in the number of scams this holiday, adding that more scammers have been arrested. 

“Although as expected na ito yung mga scams ngayong Kapaskuhan, bumaba naman talaga. In fact, bumaba yung number nung mga crimes, tumaas yung rates nung mga nahuhuli natin,” said CICC executive director Renato Paraiso in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. 

(Although these scams during the Christmas season are to be expected, they have actually decreased. In fact, the number of crimes has decreased, and the rates of those we catch have increased.) 

CICC said that various scams are proliferating this holiday season including love scams. 

“As expected, laganap ngayon yung online shopping scam at tsaka itong mga delivery scams. Tumaataas din yung travel scams at yung mga love scams ngayong kapaskuhan. Marami kasing malalamig ang Pasko,” said Paraiso. 

(As expected, online shopping scams and these delivery scams are widespread right now. Travel scams and love scams are also increasing this Christmas season. That's because many people are having a lonely/cold Christmas.) 

But the agency noted that the most common type of scam this holiday involves online shopping.

Paraiso explained that it’s either shoppers were directed to suspicious websites to induce them to give their personal information; or sometimes the ordered item will not arrive or will arrive but different from what was advertised. 

“Laganap itong online shopping scam kasi nga..siguro alam ng mga scammers na yung Christmas bonuses natin, may pera yung mga tao, at naghahanap ng mga malalaking discount, promos yung mga tao,” he said. “Ito talaga yung entry point ng mga scams, especially ginagamit yung mga social media platforms, sponsored sites para palaganapin ang scam na ito.” 

(This online shopping scam is widespread because... maybe the scammers know that people have money from their Christmas bonuses, and people are looking for big discounts and promos. This is truly the entry point of these scams, especially using social media platforms, sponsored sites to proliferate this scam.) 

CICC said it has a threat monitoring center to run after scams. Paraiso added that the public can report any incidents of scamming through its hotline 1326. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News