THE Philippine National Police (PNP) heightened its campaign against online shopping scams and fake delivery schemes in the countdown to the Christmas Season.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move was made as fraudulent transactions escalate with cybercriminals taking advantage of increased holiday spending and parcel delivery traffic.
He said the PNP strengthens its posture against cyber-enabled crimes, citing a noticeable spike in online fraud reports over the past weeks.
“The threat level is high today. Every Christmas Season, fraud cases really increase but this year the scammers are more aggressive, especially online. The PNP is on alert to protect our communities from these digital and delivery-related crimes,” Nartatez emphasized.
Nartatez directed the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to increase surveillance on known scam hotspots, fake websites, and suspicious online sellers.
He also ordered the deployment of dedicated “holiday cyber patrols” to track phishing campaigns, fraudulent ads, and emerging online threats circulating on social media and e-commerce platforms.
“Based on our monitoring, the most common ones today are online shopping scams, fake delivery parcels, phishing links, and impersonation schemes,” he noted.
“Some are sending parcels for a fee even though they are not ordered, and many are offering very good deals to deceive the public.”
As part of the enhanced response, the PNP is prioritizing entrapment operations against groups behind parcel-delivery scams, fake online sellers, phishing syndicates, and SIM/OTP harvesting activities.
Cyber investigators are also mapping possible links between local fraud groups and foreign crime networks.
“There are cases with cross-border elements, and we’re coordinating closely with international partners,” Nartatez said.
To prevent the delivery of fake parcels, the PNP is strengthening coordination with major couriers, online marketplaces, and payment service providers.
Filipinos are encouraged to use the Unified 911 System in reporting suspicious deliveries and high-risk accounts so they can be quickly flagged and investigated.
The ACG is also working with fraud prevention teams of partner companies to help dismantle scam operations at the source.
Moreover, Nartatez reminded the public to remain vigilant.
“If a parcel arrives that you didn’t order, that’s an immediate red flag. And if someone asks for your OTP (one –time password) or personal details, never click, never share. Legit companies will never ask for your passwords,” he warned.
Nartatez also urged shoppers to verify sellers, read reviews, and rely on trusted platforms when purchasing online. He advised consumers not to rush in purchasing products marketed as ‘very good deals.’
When in doubt, he said the best course of action is to avoid it.
He also enjoined communities to help spread accurate information and report scam attempts promptly.
“Keeping our netizens informed against all these scams is the key to deny these cybercriminals the opportunity to strike, while your PNP’s cyber patrolling and aggressive operations will put them to jail,” Nartatez said.
