Holiday Watch campaign aims to prevent yuletide cybercrimes

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Various government agencies have collaborated with Scam Watch Pilipinas to revive the Holiday Watch campaign against online scams during the Yuletide season.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) lead the effort.

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On November 15, the following government agencies also led the official launch of the campaign, “Holiday Watch PH 2024, in Taguig:

• Department of Trade and Industry 
• Department of Transportation 
• National Privacy Commission
• National Telecommunications Commission Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation
• Securities and Exchange Commission

On the other hand, Gogolook, Maya, GoTyme, BPI, CIMB, and Truth360 represented the campaign’s private sector support. 

“While people are preparing for their shopping lists, parties, and travel plans for the Christmas season, cybercriminals are preparing too on how best to scam you,” CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos said. 

“Cybercriminals see the holiday season as the perfect opportunity to launch attacks because of the increase in online shopping and mobile device usage.”

“People take a break during holidays but scammers do not,” he added. 

Scam Watch PIlipinas Lead Co-Convenor Jocelle De Guzman stated the holiday watch campaign will address the low reporting rate among cybercrime victims. 

The launch’s press conference lists “The Eight (8) Ways to Fight 12 Scams of Christmas”:

1. Call 1326 for online scam victims (CICC, DICT)
2. eReport Online Scams to eGov Super App (DICT, CICC)
3. eReport Online Consumer Complaint to eGov Super App (DTI, DICT)
4. Call 0920-964-3687 for Commuter Complaints (DOTr)
5. Use the SEC Check App to verify companies offering investments (SEC)
6. Check NPC Seal of Registration for Legitimate Commercial Websites (NPC)
7. Download Whoscall Anti-Scam App for Device Protection (Gogolook)
8. Follow the Four (4) Kontra Scam Attitudes (Scam Watch Pilipinas)