Nowadays, digital technology is the “in thing.”

The traditional way we live and work that we were used to may soon be of no consequence. 

And the shift to digital technology was further hastened by the Covid-19 pandemic. With governments around the world limiting movements in a bid to arrest the spread of the viral disease, everyone and everything had to turn to digital technology. We virtually lived in cyber space at the height of the pandemic — we worked, shopped, did banking transactions, and many more the digital way. 

But the convenience and efficiency that digital technology offers may have far-reaching implications — it has its advantages and disadvantages.

It has enhanced access to information and made communication more efficient. It has streamlined processes through automation, whether in business or personal concerns. Through automation, gone are the traditional manual processes. This meant less manpower. In short, digital technology has revolutionized our way of life — whether at home, at work, or in the community.

Despite its various advantages, digital technology has its own disadvantages. While it has transformed our way of life, much to our advantage, it has likewise revolutionized the way scammers and other criminal elements operate.

Breaches in our data have scaled up, more people are becoming victims of scammers — an unprecedented number never seen before the advent of technology. In the Philippines, these criminal activities intensify during special occasions, like the Christmas season.

This is why the launch of the “Holiday Watch PH” campaign on Dec. 5, 2023, is a welcome development.

The anti-scam campaign — launched by Scam Watch Pilipinas, a project of Manila Bulletin and Truth360, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) — is an awareness initiative to help keep the public vigilant against criminal elements during the Christmas season and beyond.

In support of this public awareness drive, we are sharing the “12 scams of Christmas” discussed at the launch of the Holiday Watch PH campaign.

The 12 scams of Christmas are: fake shipping or delivery notification, which involves emails or text messages that appear to come from legitimate shipping companies that seek personal information such as addresses and phone numbers; fake online charity scam used to solicit donations via messages or emails; fake shopping websites which tempts would-be victims to links used for phishing; fake online sellers seeking payment in advance and not delivering goods paid for; free trial scams; fake Christmas gift card schemes; tech support scams; investment schemes that seek processing fees; cryptocurrency scam; foreign exchange investment scams that promise high returns; dating scams in which scammers seek monetary considerations; and loan scams promising quick cash. 

Now, let’s all go digital but remain vigilant so you won’t fall prey to scammers and other criminal elements.