[Philippines] Local Trends and Safety Advisories

Avoid these latest scams in the Philippines! We update these safety advisories regularly to share with users what to look out for and how to protect themselves. 

If you come across any suspicious accounts, please report it to our team.

[February 2025] - Stay Scam-Safe This Valentine’s Day!

1. What scams should I watch for?

• Fake deals on gadgets, luxury goods, or Pokémon preorders.
• Bogus offers desserts, cakes, or gift boxes.
• Phishing links promising “exclusive deals.”

2. How do I spot fake deals?

• If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
• Verify sellers and check reviews.

3.  How can I stay safe?

• Use secure payments and trusted platforms.
• Ignore suspicious messages or links.

Stay vigilant and scam-free this season! ❤️

• [May-June 2024] Here are some important reminders to help safeguard against Fake Job Scam
  • Payment Required - Scammers may ask job seekers to pay upfront fees for things. Legitimate employers typically do not require applicants to pay.
  • Fake Job Offers - Scammers may offer non-existent jobs or positions that don’t match the job description provided. They may use fake company names, websites or email addresses to appear legitimate.
  • Phishing - Job scammers may send phishing emails or messages to job seekers, asking for personal information such as bank details, etc.
  • Work from Home scams - These scams often promise easy money for minimal work from the comfort of one’s home. However, they may involve illegal activities such as money laundering schemes.
    👉 Job scams can have serious consequences, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure to legal risks. Job seekers need to research potential employers, verify job opportunities, and be cautious when sharing personal information or sending money to unfamiliar entities.
    

• [April 2024] Here are some important reminders to help safeguard against Fake Carousell Customer Service 👉👉👉 

  • Fake customer service involves pretending to be a legitimate representative of a company. The deception can lead to users to provide sensitive information such as personal details.
  • If individuals encounter fake customer service it is important to report it immediately to the concerned company. This helps the company to take action against such deceptive practices.
  • Do not entertain any messages from an unknown number asking you to confirm any information. 

  Being vigilant in all your activities and transactions can lead you to have a safe transaction and happy browsing experience!  
  
  

• [NEW! 2024] 🚨Reminders for Ensuring Secure Transactions🚨
  
  
  1. Communication Vigilance:
  • Exercise caution when receiving calls or text messages, especially those containing links.
  • Avoid responding to such communications to prevent potential security risks or phishing attempts.
  • Stay alert to protect personal information and financial details from unauthorized access.
    
    
   2. Transaction Security Measures:
  
  • Refrain from redirecting transactions outside the designated platform for enhanced safety.
  • Ensure all financial activities stay within the secure platform.
  • Following these guidelines helps maintain the integrity of transactions and safeguards against potential fraudulent activities. Stay proactive in upholding these security measures to ensure a secure and reliable user experience.
    
    
• [NEW! 2023] 🛡️Beware of Phishing Scams🛡️ Phishing attacks continually arise. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from malicious attacks. SMS phishing, is a type of phishing attack that involves sending a sms message asking to verify the payment that the user sent.
  

  ⚠️ Safety tips to protect yourself from this type of scam:

  1. Be vigilant and do not share all your personal information with anyone.
  2. Do not click any suspicious links in text messages from unknown or untrusted resources.
  3. Be cautious of unexpected messages, especially those which convey a sense of urgency or ask sensitive information.
  4. Verify the source if a message is a suspicious one, verify the information by contacting the supposed sender through a trusted method, such as their official website.
  5. Use a Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) wherever possible, it adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
  6. Keep your mobile phones software updated, this ensures an extra layer of security as the device's operating system and applications are up to date, often including security patches.
  7. Educate yourself, stay informed about common phishing scams and be aware of the latest phishing scams. 
• [March 2022] Be careful when purchasing electronic items such as laptop, gadgets and PC parts! While scammers might have the item on hand and appear knowledgeable about the product, some may not proceed to deliver it after the payment is received. Scammers typically only partially show and not fully expose the whole postage slip, as they photocopy the same slip to use to scam other buyers. One tip is to always check the postage slip provided by the seller, and ensure that the tracking number, your name and address are correct. 
  
  
• [February 2022] Some scammers will include phone numbers in the listing description and try to persuade buyers to chat with them outside of Carousell's platform. Always remember, however, to keep all communication with other sellers or buyers within the platform! Avoid communicating on external platforms such as Facebook or WhatsApp. This ensures all relevant transaction records are available to facilitate subsequent investigation and dispute resolution should the need arise.
  
  
• [December 2021 - January 2022] Don't drop your guard just because the user you are transacting with is a long-time seller and is using an old account! Scammers may still use older accounts to list, particularly higher value luxury items such as shoes, handbags, accessories and clothing. We recommend buyers request for more photos of the item before making the purchase. When making payment to the user, also beware of scammers who just send back account images rather than typing in chat.