It is unfortunate that while the Internet has provided new opportunities for some people to survive, especially in this time of the pandemic, some exploit the same system to harm individuals through scams. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group published on their website that there are 869 reported online scam cases from March to September 2020, which is 37% higher compared to the same period in 2019 (Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133961). It is wise to think that scams target people of all backgrounds, which makes all of us vulnerable, especially when we do most of our engagement online. Be aware when engaging and exercise preventative measures to identify scam scenarios and avoid them.

Protect yourself from scams with some of these tips.

Be alert at all times. Scammers can be experts in "sweet-talking" and if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. They may have been doing a particular scheme a lot of times that made them more conscious of what a person would usually want to hear that can allow them to gain trust, and gaining trust for them makes it easier to trick people.

Know who you're dealing with. Taking some time to do a bit more research about the person you're dealing with will do you more good and can lower your chances of being scammed. Ask for any verified identifications or social media accounts. A social media account with little to no content or information about them and/or just recently created may be a candidate for a scam.

Be mindful of requests for money/fees or personal information. Never send money for suspicious reasons, or give credit card details and OTPs (one-time password). Some scammers will even threaten to beg off from a deal if the information they're trying to get is not provided.

Get a buddy when doing a Tripping. Two is better than one, and it gives that kind of comfort knowing that someone has your back when entertaining a property viewing or going on tripping because honestly, you'll never what can happen.

Help us maintain our good community here on OnePropertee. If you encounter suspicious properties, users, or leads, please report them to us. You can also submit your reports through the OnePropertee Support.