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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider PH has highest rate of shopping scams in Asia

PH has highest rate of shopping scams in Asia

Published Dec 7, 2023 11:08 pm

EDITORS DESK

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The Philippines has the highest rate of shopping scams in Asia, according to a new report released by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and Gogolook, a TrustTech provider and the company behind the anti-scam app Whoscall.


The report surveyed nearly 20,000 respondents across 11 regions in Asia and found that 35.9 percent of Filipinos have encountered shopping scams in the past year, the highest among all the regions. Shopping scams involve fraudulent sellers who offer fake or defective products or fail to deliver the goods after receiving payment.


The report also revealed that Facebook is the most common digital platform where Filipinos face scam risks, with 72.3 percent of respondents saying they have received scam messages or calls on the social media site. Facebook is followed by email (43.1 percent), Telegram (18.6 percent), and WhatsApp (16.8 percent) as the top channels for scammers in the Philippines.


The report aims to raise awareness, provide insights into the scam trends and challenges in Asia, and offer recommendations and solutions for combating these threats. The report was unveiled at the first-ever Anti-Scam Summit Asia (ASAS) held in Taipei, Taiwan. The summit was organized by GASA and Gogolook and attended by regional stakeholders from government, law enforcement, industry, and academia.


Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC) Director Alexander K. Ramos, Undersecretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, who represented the Philippines at the summit, sounded the alarm on online shopping scams, highlighting them as one of the most prevalent threats during the holiday season. He urged the public to exercise caution while navigating the digital marketplace, particularly as Christmas approaches.


“Our observations reveal a disturbing trend of shopping scams surging during the Yuletide season,” Ramos stated. “Cybercriminals exploit the frenzy of online shopping and manipulate the heightened emotions of this period to prey on unsuspecting individuals.”


Here are some of the tips from ScamWatch Pilipinas, a project of Manila Bulletin and Truth360, on how to avoid being a victim of online shopping scams:
Verify if the online shop is legitimate by checking its website for contact information, shipping and return policies, and secure connection.


Check the reviews from other customers on the shop’s website and third-party review websites. Be wary of shops with only a few or no reviews or reviews that are too short, vague, or repetitive.


Beware of too-good-to-be-true deals that offer significantly lower prices than other shops. Use online shopping tools that can compare prices from different online shops.


Use a reputable payment method that offers buyer protection and reimbursement from online shopping scams, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or major credit cards. If you can, avoid one-on-one purchases with individuals.


Research an unfamiliar product or brand by searching for its name with terms such as “scam” or “complaint” and look for reviews.


Avoid sellers who use pressure tactics to get you to buy right away or ask for personal or financial information irrelevant to the purchase.


Be wary of social media ads, especially Facebook, that may take you to an unfamiliar shopping site or a social media-based store. There are sponsored posts from cybercriminals who will attempt to scam you.


Carefully read delivery, exchange, refund and privacy policies before placing an order.


Check that phone numbers and addresses on store sites are genuine so you can contact the seller in case of problems.


This holiday season, be extra cautious with online shopping as the Philippines holds the unfortunate title of having the highest rate of shopping scams in Asia. Fake sellers and irresistible deals abound, especially on Facebook, the top platform for scammers. So, before you click that “buy” button, verify the seller, check reviews, be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers, use secure payment methods, research unfamiliar products, avoid pressure tactics, and be careful of social media ads. Stay vigilant and shop smart.

(Art Samaniego, Jr. is the head of Manila Bulletin IT Department and is the editor of Technews.)

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