Filipino netizens are urged to remain vigilant against the growing threat of deceptive Facebook scam tactics that employ alluring marketing strategies, fictitious profiles, and counterfeit websites.

A recent investigation conducted by The Daily Netizen digs into the disturbing effectiveness of these ploys employed by Facebook scammers, who have been misleading the public into purchasing Marshall and Apple gadgets through fake SM mall accounts and other dummy accounts, all while purporting Vice Ganda as their celebrity endorser.

The Daily Netizen has discovered that these scammers go to great lengths, even resorting to employing Facebook boost, paying for ads on the social media platform, and creating sophisticated fake websites all in an effort to deceive thousands of unsuspecting Filipino gadget enthusiasts.

One particularly disturbing case involved the creation of a duplicate account impersonating a well-known digital creator named Rye and David (here’s the real account with thousands of followers).

This dummy account only has a few dozen followers and shared what it described as a “horrible scene at SM Mall of Asia.” The fabricated image depicted scores of customers queuing in front of a Marshall store, lured by the promise of highly discounted Marshall products.

Furthermore, these scammers have set up numerous counterfeit SM mall pages to amplify their message, all bearing the words, “OFFICIAL APOLOGY – to all Filipinos.”

These pages employ deceptive marketing tactics to lure unwary Filipino buyers into purchasing either Marshall or Apple products.

Among the fraudulent or dummy pages identified are:

1. SM Mall of Asia
2. SM Mall of Asia Arena
3. SM Mall of Asia Philippines
4. SM Mall of Asia Complex PH
5. SM Mall of Asia (another version)
6. The Loop Ph
7. Power Mac Center
8. Mr. Ben Loo, who the scammers claim as the CEO of a company called Switch
9. Philippine News

The extent of these scams and their alarming effectiveness underscores the need for heightened awareness and caution among Filipino netizens.

Experts advise scrutinizing the authenticity of online content and products, while reporting suspicious pages and accounts to the authorities and social media platforms.

It is crucial to remain informed and vigilant in the face of these increasingly sophisticated fraudulent tactics, as Facebook scammers continue to exploit unsuspecting individuals in their quest for illicit gains.