Philippines Leads in Online Shopping Scams Across Asia: A Cautionary Tale

janimonow

Nov 25

The Philippines has recently been highlighted for a dubious distinction: it leads 11 Asian countries in the rate of online shopping scams, with a staggering rate of 35.9%. This alarming statistic, derived from the 2023 Asia Scam Report, places Filipinos at the forefront of vulnerability to fraudulent shopping schemes online. The report involved about 20,000 respondents from across Asia, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

The study revealed several key insights into the nature of these scams and the behavior of victims. A significant 24.8% of Filipino victims fell prey to scams due to responding too hastily to scammers' demands. Additionally, around 21.1% of victims took risks despite uncertainties, and 20.5% were enticed by offered incentives. Scammers commonly use text messages, social media, and email to reach their targets.

Technology expert Art Samaniego, speaking on "24 Oras," identified three primary factors that scammers exploit: curiosity, fear, and greed. He explained that scammers use fear by sending messages about account deactivation, redirecting victims to fake sites, and exploiting their greed with false promises of substantial revenues.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warned the public to exercise caution, especially during the holiday season when shopping scams tend to increase. CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos highlighted Filipinos' tendency to respond immediately to scams and believe in false promises as reasons for their susceptibility to such schemes. Ramos emphasized the need for increased awareness and vigilance.

The Asia Scam Report, conducted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Taiwan-based tech company Gogolook, underscores the prevalence of shopping scams among nine mainstream scam scenarios across Asian countries. These include identity theft, investment fraud, government and bank scams, job scams, lottery scams, family and relatives scams, bill payment scams, and charity scams.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also advised the public to remain vigilant while shopping online, suggesting dealing only with authorized online selling applications to ensure warranty and safety of purchases. They reminded consumers that once money is transferred, it's challenging to recover in case of a scam.

The rising tide of online shopping scams in the Philippines, especially during the holiday season, calls for heightened vigilance and awareness among consumers. It's crucial to understand the tactics used by scammers and to engage in secure online shopping practices to avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.