Manila, Dec. 24 -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has warned the public amid a marked increase in fraudulent activities, including fake online stories, phishing messages, and deceptive payment links during holidays.

In an advisory on Wednesday, the NBI noticed that scammers are becoming more sophisticated and often mimicking the logos and branding of reputable retailers to harvest personal data or steal banking credentials.

"If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is," the bureau said.

Under its safety guidelines, the NBI urged the public to verify before buying and check the legitimacy of sellers and online marketplaces.

"The public is also advised to avoid suspicious links sent via SMS or email from unknown so...