Manila: Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has directed the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to bolster efforts against the anticipated rise in online shopping scams and fake delivery schemes as the Christmas season approaches. This directive comes in response to the yearly increase in online fraud cases during the festive period.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez emphasized the heightened threat level this year and noted the increased aggression of scammers operating online. The PNP is taking proactive measures to protect communities from digital and delivery-related crimes. The ACG has been tasked to enhance surveillance on scam hotspots, fake websites, and suspicious online sellers.
Lt. Gen. Nartatez announced the deployment of “holiday cyber patrols” to monitor phishing campaigns, fraudulent advertisements, and emerging online threats across social media and e-commerce platforms. The PNP’s monitoring has identified online shopping scams, fake delivery parcels, phishing links, and impersonation schemes as the most prevalent cybercrimes.
The PNP-ACG reported 3,941 online scam cases from January to November 13 this year. These include online selling scams (1,630 cases), investment/task scams (589), vishing (431), hijacked profile/ID scams (326), and loan/lending scams (251). Other scams reported involve accommodation and travel scams, smishing, fake bookings, phishing, e-wallet fraud, romance/love scams, employment/seminar scams, debit/credit card fraud, parcel/package scams, and fake receipt or legit buyer scams.
The PNP is prioritizing entrapment operations against groups involved in parcel-delivery scams, fake online sellers, phishing syndicates, and SIM/OTP harvesting activities. Cyber investigators are mapping potential links between local fraud groups and foreign crime networks, with some cases involving cross-border elements necessitating international cooperation.
To curb the distribution of fake parcels, the PNP is enhancing coordination with major couriers, online marketplaces, and payment service providers. The public is encouraged to use the Unified 911 System to report suspicious deliveries and high-risk accounts for prompt investigation.
Nartatez reminded the public to stay vigilant, advising shoppers to verify sellers, read reviews, and use trusted platforms for online purchases. Communities are urged to disseminate accurate information and report scam attempts to help dismantle fraudulent operations.
