The Department of Trade and Industry has issued an advisory to the public to remain vigilant against fraud and scam this holiday season.
In its Facebook page DTI Philippines, the agency uploaded an album dubbed, “12 SCAMonsters of Christmas” which states the twelve most common types of scam circulating in the community and on-line.
- Fake charities.It is best to donate to charities directly instead of giving into the urge of handing over a few coins or bills towards these “representatives”. According to DTI, one way of knowing if a charity is legitimate is to research. Another way is to check with the Securities and Exchange Commission Public Information and Assistance Hotline: 818-1119.
- Unregistered holiday raffle promos.According to DTI, these scammers are prevalent in social media. They also tend to ask the public for money before being entered into the raffle. To avoid this, it is best to join DTI-registered raffle promos listed on http://www.dti.gov.ph/consumers/approved-sales-promotions.
- Unregistered Christmas sales.It is easiest to determine their legitimacy by checking if a DTI permit is present in their poster o print ads. The public may also contact Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau of DTI at (+632) 811.8231 or email at FTEB@dti.gov.ph.
- Online gadget giveaways.They usually work through unverified (sometimes fake) social media accounts. To defeat them, DTI advises the public to avoid spreading misinformation and report the page immediately.
- Malicious online shopping websites. The best way to spot them is to check if the URL (or link) is unsecured and filled with “click advertisements”. They also don’t contain terms and conditions. To defeat them, DTI suggests the public to check if there are reviews, customer feedback, and return or refund policy. For more information, check http://www.dti.gov.ph/e-commerceor email at ECO@dti.gov.ph.
- Seasonal travel scams.It is scam if the travel agency only operates online and has no physical office, company registration documents, or business licenses. To defeat them, it is best to do research and determine their consumer feedback.
- Holdiay decors gone wrong.To avoid the dangers brought by faulty Christmas lights and lanterns, DTI reminds the public to always look for the ICC sticker, DTI’s “seal of approval”.
- Holiday SMiShing.“SMiSishing” is phishing via SMS. SMiShing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money) through text messages. To defeat them, DTI advises the public to submit their complaint on National Telecommunications Commission’s site http://ntc.gov.ph/?page_id=1301 and immediately block the number.
- Networking/pyramid scams. To defeat them, DTI suggests to consult the nearest Negosyo Centers or check http://www.dti.gov.ph/programs-projects/negosyo-center.
- Cyber thief. These take the form of mobile applications that “give you free stuff” in exchange for your banking information. Make sure to check the reviews and the app’s permissions before downloading. Also, avoid disclosing banking details online.
- Bogus gift certificates.They usually offer gift cards or gift certificates worth a significant amount of money for a lower amount, usually from some random seller. Legitimate gift cards and gift certificates should only be bought directly from the establishment.
- ATM Skimming.DTI warns the public to be wary of the teller machines when conducting transactions, check the card slot, keypad, cash dispenser, and even the surrounding before inserting the ATM card.
To know more about these scams and how to report them, visit the DTI Philippines Facebook page.
