DTI releases list of common Christmas scams

Christmas is a holiday that encourages sharing. When people start getting into the thick of it, it can become an unstoppable urge of good that other, more “opportunistic” people tend to take advantage of. Thus, Christmas is not just a time for sharing; it’s also the most perilous time for scams.

Avoiding scams means knowing what they are and how to spot them. Luckily, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) posted the 12 most common Christmas scams on their Facebook page, which they’ve dubbed the “12 SCAMonsters of Christmas”:

1. Fake charities. One way of knowing if a charity is legitimate is if you’ve heard of them before. It’s best to donate to charities directly instead of giving into the urge of handing over a few coins or bills towards these “representatives”. Check with the Securities and Exchange Commission to know whether the charity is legit.
2. Unregistered holiday raffle promos. The easiest way of spotting these bogus promos is if they ask you for money before being entered into the raffle, whereas DTI-registered raffle promos do not.
3. Unregistered Christmas sales. Sales in general aren’t bad, but unregistered ones may have you buying fake items that will cost you more in the long run. A DTI permit should be present in their promotional material.
4. Online gadget giveaways. You’ve probably seen this while browsing Facebook. All these promos ask of you is to “like, comment, and share”. Usually done by bogus social media accounts, the best way to combat these is to contact the company in question. Remember: think before you click.
5. Malicious online shopping websites. These come in the form of unsecured e-commerce websites, usually peppered with click advertisements. You’ll either get faulty products or not get your order processed altogether.
6. Seasonal travel scams. With the influx of money during Christmas comes the urge to travel. Scammers often take advantage of this by giving out offers that only seem to be available during Christmas.

7. Holdiay decors gone wrong. Faulty Christmas lights, lanterns, and the like will only add to your misery. Make sure to look for an ICC sticker, DTI’s “seal of approval”.
8. Holiday SMiShing. You’ve probably received one without realizing what it’s called: a text that tells you you’ve won a promo you’ve never heard of with a DTI permit number taken out of the blue. We suggest blocking that number ASAP and reporting it to the National Telecommunications Commission.
9. Networking/pyramid scams. More money usually means people asking you if you’re “open-minded”. They’ll offer you a business deal that will sound too good to be true… which it usually is. Avoid these people at all costs, since the DTI themselves can offer you better advice.
10. Cyber thief. These take the form of mobile applications that “give you free stuff” in exchange for your banking information. Make sure you check the reviews and the app’s permissions before you download. Also, never give out your banking details online.
11. Bogus gift certificates. Gift certificates make the perfect gift: they’re good as cash without the hassle of actually giving away cash. However, there will be those who will offer you gift cards or gift certificates worth a lot of money for a significantly lower amount, usually from some random seller. Legitimate gift cards and gift certificates should only be bought directly from the establishment.
12. ATM Skimming. Perhaps the newest out of all the scams, these take the form of tampered ATM machines set up in a not-so-secure place. It’s hard to tell from first glance, so make sure you check everything surrounding the card, cash slot, screen, and keypad before using any ATM.

Arm yourself with information and you’ll surely avoid these scams. To know more about reporting these scams, visit the DTI Philippines Facebook page.

Source: DTI’s 12 SCAMonsters of Christmas, Inquirer.net