Cybercrime is a fact of modern digital life. Few Filipinos today are unaware of identity theft and various scams; look at your SMS inbox, but methods have become more sophisticated. During a recent briefing, cybersecurity company FortiNet warned cyber criminals now operate as “an industrialized system operating at machine speed” while tapping into AI to scale activities.

Cyberattacks increase during holiday sales as more people spend hard-earned bonuses within limited hours to buy gifts for loved ones and themselves. Harassed by seasonal demands, you become more vulnerable to cybercrime.

This article looks at common “vectors”, or approaches, used by cyber criminals during the holidays and how you can avoid becoming the next victim.

The Grinch that stole your identity

Identity theft remains one of the highest and most lucrative of cybercrimes. It works on Filipinos because Identity theft ranks among the most lucrative cybercrimes. Such attacks succeed due to a generally trusting culture, and many people lack the training and awareness to detect sophisticated attacks.

Christmas becomes an opportune time due to high purchase volume, many occurring online, and reduced awareness caused by seasonal stress. Vectors like fake websites, phishing emails, or SMS messages get through because many people feel distracted. Combined with AI-assisted attacks, holiday cyberattacks increase at a rapid rate.

Here’s how you can beat a holiday attempt at identity theft:

• Only answer or reply to trusted numbers and links. Saving numbers of friends, family, and trusted businesses like banks turns smartphones from common attack vectors into a first line of defense.
• When in doubt, verify. Cyberattacks continue to grow more sophisticated, and emails and texts look authentic. Cyber criminals now use AI to support attacks. When doubting the legitimacy of a transaction or request, make direct contact through officially registered numbers.
• Learn common cybersecurity habits. Focus on signs like “https://” before site access, mismatched or misspelled items in a URL, banks asking for passwords, or requests to share an OTP you did not request.

Scamming Gift Giving

A Statista survey in 2024 revealed a large share of Filipino holiday shoppers planned to buy both online and in-store. Both situations create opportunities for cyber criminals to target shoppers.

Chronically online Filipinos face constant exposure to social media ads. Any one of these ads could lead to a scam designed to take your money while shopping for gifts for the inaanak or loved ones. Phishing remains a preferred vector, with Kaspersky reporting 6.4 million attempts targeting shoppers between January and October. The figure rises during the Christmas season with more fake websites, emails, and notifications.

Keep the following in mind to beat scam attempts:

• Never trust offers that appear too good to be true. Cybercriminals prey on our desire to get the most value for our money in purchases. But if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. More than your money could be at stake if you click on that link.
• Limit opportunities for one big attack. Swiping a credit card during a sale raises exposure to stolen credentials. Complete transactions only through trusted platforms, and use debit cards to limit losses in case of compromise.
• Remain vigilant. The season brings fatigue and pressure, yet a brief lapse leads to serious consequences. Continue verifying transactions and credentials for every online financial interaction.

Reliable Cybercrime Protection

While cyber insurance often targets businesses, more providers now offer personal cybercrime protection as identity theft and digital financial loss grow more common. Cyber liability insurance protects against e-commerce scams, fund transfer fraud, and identity theft.

If you’re interested in knowing about cyber insurance for your business, check out our article on that here.

Agents at Reliable Insurance Brokers help match cyber protection needs with suitable providers. Call today to simplify coverage decisions and strengthen cybersecurity protection.

Contact Information for Inquiries and Support

If you have any questions or need assistance with your insurance, feel free to reach out to us:

• Call: +63 2 8631 9285 to 86
• Mobile: +63 917 138 5120
• Email: info@reliable-insurance.ph
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Sources:

• Norton (2024, December 18), Don't Let Holiday Cyberattacks Spoil Your Festivities.
• Philippine Daily Inquirer (2025, December 23), Holiday Shopping Heightens Threat Of Online Scams.
• Philippine Daily Inquirer (2025, December 6), Christmas Customs Make Filipino Firms, Consumers Target Of Cybercrimes.
• Business Mirror (2025, October 21), Phl Among Top 20 Most Targeted By Cyber Threats In 2025, Microsoft Report Reveals.