SCAMMERS exploit the usual platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and create deceptively authentic online stores. This exploitation coincides with the global holiday shopping rush, usually starting with the November Black Friday sale. McAfee’s 2024 Global Holiday Shopping Scams Study show a 23 percent the increase in online scams compared to last year, with many respondents falling victim to sophisticated AI-driven scams, including deepfakes.
Mimicking legitimate brands
Often mimicking the appearance of well-known brands—hijacking the logos, corporate names of big-name malls, popular watches, clothing, shoe and gaming brands—fake online stores online are usually operated in areas far away from where they claim to be found Aside from stolen branding these fake shops may feature fabricated customer reviews, making non-seasoned shoppers fall prey.
A cursory scan of the most popular social media platforms and the uptick in text messages (despite the Philippines’ SIM registration law) reflect what a 2024 Kaspersky report detecting over 3.6 million cyber threats targeting users here, with a significant percentage attributed to web-based attacks. This trend highlights the vulnerability of Filipino consumers during the holiday season.
Spotting the fakers
Too good to be true pricing. One of the most glaring red flags of a fake online store is unrealistic pricing and offers. Scammers frequently lure victims employing “going out of business” or “clearance sale” tactics. There is also the appeal of “we apologize that we ran out (of inventory). Cybercriminals may even use dynamic pricing techniques to generate shifting prices that appear higher then significantly lower than market value. Consumers must be highly skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true and to compare prices across multiple retailers.
Unknown payment systems. When it comes to payment, scammers often insist on unconventional methods like wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, which offer little to no recourse for victims. To protect yourself, stick to secure payment gateways and trusted platforms like credit cards or PayPal. Be wary of any errors during the payment process that might steer you towards insecure options.
Obvious discrepancies. Due to the hasty nature of their setup, fake payment gateways of e-shops may also contain internal inconsistencies. There may be discrepancies between stated locations, shipping details, and product descriptions. It is crucial to carefully review all information on the website for inconsistencies. Pay attention to details like shipping origins, return policies, anonymous reviews and contact information. When there are discrepancies—even a misspelled word—keep away from the sit
Not where or what they should be
Lack of own web security. The most obvious red flag for fake e-shops is the lack essential security measures like HTTPS encryption or secure payment gateways, putting personal and financial information at risk. Always verify the presence of HTTPS and a valid SSL certificate. Chrome, Opera and Brave have built in browser extensions or security software that can identify potentially unsafe websites. Other browsers have plug-ins to detect this behavior.
Location confusion. Oftentimes the location domain is indicative of a scam. This is not to say that all websites with these domains are fraudulent. This is based on a three-year report from the World Cybercrime Index, published in April 2024 that ranked Russia (.ru) as the top source of cybercrime, followed by Ukraine (.ua), China (.cn), the Nigeria (.ng), and Romania (.ro). The United States (.us) also appears but there is proof that this is because of pornography sites which commonly have links or re-directs to nefarious websites.
Act fast and decisively. If you suspect you have fallen victim to an e-commerce scam, take immediate action. Contact your bank or credit card company to report fraudulent transactions and initiate a chargeback. Report the scam to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Division via its online platform https://acg-ecomplaint.com/open.php. Or to the NBI Cybercrime division via email. Also contact consumer protection agencies, via social media platforms which have almost immediate access to a community of scam watchers.
