Holiday scams decreased, says CICC

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) reported Sunday a decline in the number of cyber scams this holiday season, saying that arrests of perpetrators have increased.

CICC executive director Renato Paraiso said in a radio interview that while the rise of holiday scams is expected, "they have actually decreased. In fact, the number of crimes has decreased, and the rates of those we catch have increased.”

Paraiso acknowledged that various scams typically proliferate during the Christmas season. He specifically noted the prevalence of online shopping scams and delivery scams, as well as an increase in travel and "love scams."

The agency highlighted that online shopping remains the most common type of holiday scam.

Paraiso explained that these scams typically involve directing shoppers to suspicious websites to steal personal information, or failing to deliver the ordered item, or sending a product that differs significantly from what was advertised.

He suggested that scammers target online shopping because they know people receive Christmas bonuses and are actively seeking big discounts and promotions. He added that social media platforms and sponsored sites are often used as entry points to widely spread these scams.

The CICC maintains a threat monitoring center dedicated to pursuing scams. Paraiso urged the public to report any scamming incidents immediately through the agency's hotline, 1326.