BUTUAN CITY (December 13) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Caraga has issued a blunt warning to holiday shoppers: online scammers are aggressively targeting residents, and many fall victim because they underestimate how sophisticated these schemes have become.
Launching its “Oplan Paskong Sigurado” campaign on Friday, DICT-13 said cybercriminals are exploiting the Christmas rush — when people are distracted, in a hurry, and more willing to click on enticing offers.
“With online shopping booming during the holidays, scams and fraudulent sellers are also on the rise,” the agency said, noting a spike in fake marketplace profiles, bogus courier messages, and counterfeit e-commerce websites.
DICT: ‘Scammers are evolving. Shoppers must, too.’
The agency stressed that outdated habits — such as paying through direct bank transfers, trusting sellers without verification, or clicking unverified links — make consumers easy targets.
Among the key defenses DICT outlined: • Buy only from verified or well-established sellers; avoid pages created just weeks or days ago • Rely on secure payment methods such as credit cards or reputable e-wallets that offer dispute mechanisms • Never send cash or transfer money via random links sent through chat • Question “flash sales” with impossibly low prices, a common bait for fake order pages • Check for website security features and refuse to provide unnecessary personal information
Holiday traps: deals that steal
DICT said scam operations are becoming more coordinated — using convincing product pages, paid ads, and fake courier tracking numbers to trick buyers.
“Unrealistic discounts are a major red flag,” the agency warned. “If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
Cybersecurity officers noted that many fraudulent sites now mirror legitimate brands, complete with logos and testimonials, but divert users to unsafe payment portals designed to harvest banking details.
Consumers urged to report — not just absorb losses
DICT-13 urged residents not to stay silent after falling prey to online fraud, saying unreported cases allow scammers to operate longer and target more victims. The agency encouraged consumers to immediately report suspicious sellers or websites to local DICT offices and law enforcement.
“We need the public to be proactive. Consumer vigilance is our strongest line of defense,” it said.
