Davao City Councilor Jessica Bonguyan has issued a critical warning to residents about an alarming increase in sophisticated online scams targeting resort and event venue bookings during the holiday season.
Councilor's Personal Encounter with Scammers
During her privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Bonguyan revealed that she nearly became a victim herself. She encountered what appeared to be a legitimate promotional offer for resort bookings, but became suspicious due to unusually low rates that seemed too good to be true.
"Had I not taken that extra step, I would have been another victim," Bonguyan stated during her address. "These scammers are strategic, patient, and highly skilled at mimicking legitimate businesses."
The councilor emphasized that after cross-checking with official and verified pages, she discovered the account she had been communicating with was completely fraudulent.
Sophisticated Fraud Operation Uncovered
Bonguyan reported a significant proliferation of fake Facebook pages impersonating well-known resorts, rest houses, and event venues throughout Davao. These fraudulent accounts use convincing tactics to appear legitimate while offering heavily discounted promotions designed to lure unsuspecting victims.
"What makes this issue even more concerning is its sophistication," she explained. "These are not crude attempts at deception. They are engineered to appear legitimate, timely, and convincing."
The councilor noted that with the holiday season approaching, many Dabawenyos are actively booking venues for family gatherings, reunions, and year-end celebrations, creating perfect conditions for scammers to exploit the increased demand.
Protective Measures and Official Action
Bonguyan provided essential safety guidelines for the public, urging residents to always verify page authenticity before making any transactions. She recommended contacting establishments directly through their official websites or verified contact numbers rather than relying solely on social media platforms.
Key warning signs include:
- Offers that seem too good to be true
- Payment requests through personal accounts rather than business accounts
- Pressure to make immediate deposits
- Slight variations in social media handles or page names
Bonguyan successfully passed a resolution encouraging Dabawenyos to maintain vigilance in their online booking activities. The resolution aligns with Executive Order No. 23 series of 2021, which promotes a Culture of Security, and calls for reporting suspicious online booking activities to authorities.
The matter has been referred to the Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Councilor Bonz Andre Militar, who confirmed multiple cases of online accounts impersonating legitimate resorts and even banking institutions.
Militar warned the public to exercise extreme caution when clicking links, as these could be phishing scams designed to compromise online financial security. He announced plans to invite representatives from major social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, to a council session to address the proliferation of scammers on their platforms.
Both officials stressed that awareness remains the best defense against these sophisticated scams, reminding residents that the holiday season, while a time for generosity and celebration, also requires increased caution when making online transactions.
