Manila: The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG): has raised an alert regarding fraudulent vacation accommodation offers circulating online as the summer season approaches. The group highlighted several incidents of misleading advertisements found on social media platforms.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Arancillo reported that the group documented 29 cases within the first two months of 2026. These incidents predominantly involved deceptive posts advertising inexpensive hotel and resort stays. Scammers often exploit stolen images from genuine websites to promote these low-cost accommodations, enticing victims to make advance payments.
Lt. Arancillo emphasized the importance of skepticism when encountering offers that appear unusually affordable or too enticing. "If we see offers that are too cheap or too good to be true and if we are asked for money, a down payment or full payment, we should be suspicious. Do not provide financial accounts or personal information," Arancillo advised during a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Additionally, some victims have reported arriving at locations only to find that the advertised resorts or hotels do not exist. Arancillo recommended conducting a "legit check" to verify the authenticity of such offers.
The spokesperson urged travelers to avoid rushing into bookings made through social media or online platforms. Cybercriminals often employ social engineering tactics to deceive potential victims. The number of cases logged in January and February 2026 slightly exceeds the 28 incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.