The Philippines reached a shopping scam rate of 35.9%, the highest across eleven countries.

That alarming scam rate is based on the 2023 Asia Scam Report, a study published by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and software company Gogolook, and presented at the 1st Anti-Scam Asia Summit in Taipei. The study collected data from almost 20,000 respondents across Asian countries—China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

In light of this, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) in the Philippines issued an advisory to the public during the holiday shopping season. According to CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos, shopping scam incidents increase during Christmas as scammers exploit the relatively high number of online shopping done during the period and target vulnerable people.

Asia-Scam-Report-Details

The Asia Scam Report encompassed a range of scam scenarios prevalent in Asia. These include bill payment frauds, charity scams, family or relative scams, identity theft, and job scams. Shopping scams were highlighted as one of the main scam techniques.

Asia-Scam-Report-2023

Ramos pointed out that the typical response of Filipinos to scams contributes to their susceptibility to online shopping scams, with many quickly believing in too-good-to-be-true promises. The report found that 24.8% of Filipino scam victims responded hastily and complied with scammers’ demands, and 21.1% took risks despite uncertainties. The fact that victims get enticed by incentives and trust in friends and family also contributes to their vulnerability.

Anyone victimized by shopping scams and other online-related crimes may reach out to CICC by calling the 1326 hotline.

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