BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) 13 (Caraga Region), through its Cybersecurity Bureau, launched “Oplan Paskong Sigurado” on Friday, a campaign aimed at protecting residents from online scams and fraudulent sellers.
The massive information campaign encourages Caraga residents to follow safety precautions to protect their money and personal data.
“With online shopping booming during the holidays, scams and fraudulent sellers are also on the rise,” the DICT-13 said in a statement.
Safety measures include buying only from verified sellers and choosing secure payment options.
“Always check reviews, the seller’s website age, and whether they provide legitimate contact details,” it said.
Residents are also encouraged to pay with credit cards or trusted payment platforms and avoid sending cash or using unverified payment links to prevent financial fraud.
“Be wary of unrealistic discounts. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Extremely low prices are often a red flag for scams,” the agency said.
Checking website security also involves avoiding sites that ask for unnecessary personal information, it added. (PNA)