Benise Balaoing

Young people use social media apps on their mobile phones and computers as they attend  the forum, Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive: Case Study of Percy Lapid Mabasa, at the CMC Auditorium Plaridel Hall UP Diliman Quezon City on October 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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MEDIA-KILLINGS

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- As Christmas draws near, authorities are reminding Filipinos to be careful of scammers who might take advantage of the holiday spirit.In a Facebook post, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said suspicious links leading to offers of free items might lead to scams.The agency also noted that products with no reviews from sellers who have recently joined online shopping platforms may be scams.The DICT also urged the public to check with their friends who suddenly ask them for money on social media. This means their accounts may have been hacked, the agency explained.The bureau also warned Pinoys against fake brand collaborations, where scammers ask their victims for money in exchange for being an influencer.&quot;Real brands don&#x27;t ask for money,&quot; the DICT said.For its part, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warned the public against false documents with the BSP logo and a signature of one of its officials.Examples of these falsified documents are “assurance letters,” “Security System IT Department Renewal Request for OTP PIN Code with TSS,” “Confirmation of Beneficiary Bank,” “Terms of Loan Contract,” and certifications for loans, deposits, withdrawals, fund transfers, credit cards, money changing, or investments.The central bank said these scammers urgently ask their victims for money, then steal their personal data like bank account details, passwords, and other confidential information.The BSP said it does not ask persons or firms to collect “fees” for anti-money laundering clearance, taxes, and other services.The BSP said Filipinos must ignore these messages and avoid providing personal or financial information.The DICT also reminded the public to use two-factor authentication on their devices and check reviews of products they are about to buy.It also urged the public to use only legitimate payment methods for their transactions.

How to avoid scams this holiday season

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How to avoid scams this holiday season

Benise Balaoing,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 23, 2025 04:06 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 23, 2025 04:50 PM PHT

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DICT

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BSP

Bangko Sentral

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