WHILE digital aguinaldo is “in” nowadays, a digital lawyer asked ninongs and ninangs to be careful in sending money as there could be posers claiming to be their “inaanaks.”
“They could be claiming as their inaanaks saying that they got a new number or had asked the number of their friend for sending their Aguinaldo using the digital transfers.. Do not be scammed,” Atty. Nicasio “Nick” Conti of the Click Partylist said.
Filipinos carry a traditional “Aguinaldo” or the giving of money by the godfathers and godmothers to their “inaanak” during Christmas.
And with the emergence of technology particularly the digital age, even the Filipino tradition had to adjust.
Atty. Conti called on Filipinos to exercise caution in their use of digital platforms, particularly during the holiday season, to avoid falling victim to scams and crimes.
“As the trend of sending digital ‘aguinaldo’ or monetary gifts online becomes more popular, we advise ninongs and ninangs to verify the identities of their inaanaks before transferring money. Scammers are getting more creative, and we must remain vigilant to protect our hard-earned money,” said Atty. Conti, a recognized digital lawyer and advocate for cybersecurity.
Conti outlined a few tips to ensure a scam-free Christmas:
- Ensure that the digital number is correct
- Call the “inaanak” if they are using a different number
- Check the amount being sent
- Make sure you are using a stable connection and not a public connection to avoid being hijacked
“While the spirit of Christmas is about giving, we should be careful against unscrupulous individuals out to take advantage of the season,” the digital lawyer said.
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