The holiday season is once again driving a wave of shopping activity, with consumers drawn to Christmas sales, online deals, and year-end promotions. While digital shopping offers convenience and wider choices, cybersecurity experts are cautioning Filipinos to stay vigilant as online scams rise alongside increased spending.
Holiday Rush Creates Opportunities for Scammers
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported that from January to October 2025, about 6.4 million shopping-related phishing attempts were recorded. These scams often appear as legitimate online shops, banks, or payment platforms, with nearly half directly targeting online buyers.
Adrian Hia, managing director for Asia-Pacific, explained that the fast pace of holiday shopping makes consumers more vulnerable. With shoppers racing to complete purchases and deliveries, attackers exploit moments of distraction, making digital awareness and secure habits more important during this period.
Familiar Platforms, New Tricks
As more Filipinos rely on digital wallets, delivery apps, and social commerce, scammers are adapting their methods to look increasingly authentic. Phishing emails and text messages are commonly disguised as updates from courier services, banks, or e-wallet providers, prompting users to click malicious links or share sensitive details.
Experts advise consumers to pause before acting on messages that demand immediate payment or promote deals that seem unusually generous. These tactics are designed to pressure shoppers into quick decisions without verification.
Growing Concern Over Identity Theft
Fake online stores and promotional pages offering steep discounts are also circulating widely on social media and messaging platforms. In some cases, fraudsters pose as sellers, customer service agents, or even acquaintances to request payments.
A study by Appdome found that nearly half of Filipinos worry most about identity theft when shopping online during the holidays. The report also noted that around 75 percent of users abandon or delete apps due to security and fraud concerns—signaling heightened caution among consumers.
Despite these risks, the digital economy continues to expand. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows it accounted for 8.5 percent of the country’s GDP, or P2.25 trillion in 2024, driven by e-commerce, digital infrastructure, and online services.
