Insider Spotlight
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and Scam Watch Pilipinas relaunched a public-awareness campaign detailing the “Top 12 Scams of Christmas,” aiming to blunt digital crime during the busiest shopping months.
Why it matters
The holidays concentrate cashflow—bonuses, e-commerce sales, travel bookings, and remittances—making Filipinos prime targets for phishing, delivery scams, impersonation calls, and fraudulent online offers.
CICC acting executive director Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said the initiative pushes early, proactive protection.
“The holiday season is when scammers become more aggressive and creative. This awareness campaign is part of our duty to equip every Filipino with the right knowledge so they won’t fall victim to fraudulent messages, fake deliveries, phishing calls, and other kinds of scams. Our goal is simple—to protect every Filipino from cybercriminals this Christmas,” he said.
Zoom in
The Top 12 scams flagged include online shopping, fake delivery, call scams, job/task scams, investments, love scams, loans, impersonation, travel, charity fraud, middleman schemes, and online gambling.
Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman said the project’s third year remains anchored on a behavior-based framework. “Holiday Watch PH has consistently proven effective because it is grounded in the Anti-Scam Quad Model—behavior change, volunteerism, cross-sector collaboration, and technology-enabled reporting,” he noted.
Between the lines
Authorities want Filipinos to adopt the #KontraScamAttitude built around four habits:
The 1326 Anti-Scam Hotline remains the central channel for victims, while non-victims can upload screenshots and URLs through the eGOVPH app.
Tech angle
Gogolook, Meta and Truth360 Inc. are supporting the effort. Gogolook is pushing the Whoscall app as a caller-ID and scam-detection tool.
“Being aware of the Top 12 Scams of Christmas empowers Filipinos to avoid fake shopping links, call scams, job scams, impersonation attempts, and other deceptive tactics. We also encourage everyone to download the Whoscall app for real-time caller identification and scam detection,” Gogolook Philippines country head Mel Migrino said.
What’s next
Authorities are banking on steady reporting, stronger digital vigilance and app-based screening tools to limit financial losses as holiday transactions peak. ---Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
