Christmas is just around the corner — are you done with your gift shopping? Or have you planned your December schedule with all the get-togethers and reunions? Or maybe you’ve pre-ordered food and deliveries in advance to avoid the holiday rush?

Oh well, I guess we’re all the same during this busiest time of the year. It is indeed a celebration for making it to the end of the year and a thanksgiving as well for all the blessings we received no matter how challenging this year may have been. Hey, at least we made it to the end of 2024. Cheer up!

But you know who is also in a holiday mood with big smiles this Christmas season? Well, not someone you know. Clue? Okay, probably somebody you never came across but who has your details — scammers!

The holiday season means more travel, local and international. This is the time to reunite with your loved ones after working all year long. This is also the time to send and receive balikbayan boxes.

In an archipelagic state, ports serve as essential hubs during the festive season, not only facilitating passenger travel but also the movement of logistics and goods. This year, passenger statistics are higher by 5.9 percent over the figures of 2023, from 73 million, passengers are expected to hit 77 million.

But on the other side of the celebrations are those who thrive on the vulnerability of people in a festive mood.

In the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), several scams have emerged using the name of the agency and of general manager Jay Santiago to extort money from people using the ports. They use a fake PPA logo, fake PPA Viber number, fake signature of the PPA general manager, and fake receipts with fake watermarks of the PPA seal. These fraudulent schemes aim to deceive passengers and the public by stealing their personal information, extracting payment and using their card details.

During the Christmas season, scammers usually target logistics and transactions involving deliveries and payments for balikbayan boxes and local goods. At the start of the “ber” months, the PPA social media accounts received more than 30 (and still counting) complaints regarding money taken from them by scammers using the PPA for their online deliveries and transactions.

The usual scams include fake delivery claims and messaging a person that they have received an international package they must pay a release fee for. The scammers usually send invoices and photos of the balikbayan boxes with the name of the person being scammed telling them their package is at the port, to make it appear legitimate.

Another scam is passenger insurance fraud, wherein passengers are offered insurance for their protection before they board their ship. Passengers are reminded not to be fooled by these scammers as their insurance is paid when they buy their tickets.

Be smarter than a scammer!

Make sure to verify requests for payment through any PPA social media account or text line. Avoid paying fees without the confirmation of legitimate PPA offices despite receipts being presented, even those with the PPA logo or signature of the PPA GM. Make sure to never do a transaction online, especially when you are asked for specific details of your personal information.

Remember, prevention is better than cure. By staying vigilant and informed, folks can protect themselves from scams and enjoy a hassle-free holiday season. I know this holiday season can be stressful but it can also be both an opportunity and a challenge for the port management and port users. This should not be a period of stress but a showcase of well-managed operations and service to the Filipino people.

After all, we are all in the same boat (wherever you and your packages may be going this holiday season)!