Filipino consumers are heading into the peak holiday shopping period more anxious than ever, as new data from Appdome’s 2025 Consumer Expectations of Mobile App Security Report reveals a major spike in fears around AI-driven fraud. Synthetic identities, deepfake scams, and mobile account takeovers have now become the top reasons shoppers abandon mobile apps during Black Friday, Cyber Week, and the Christmas season.
Recent industry reports from NordLayer, SEON, and Kaspersky show fraud attempts surging between 22% and 400% during Cyber Week. Appdome’s consumer survey reflects this rising threat landscape:
- 43.4% of Filipinos say identity fraud is their biggest concern when shopping on mobile.
- 74.7% delete or avoid apps they believe are unsafe.
- 34.1% claim they or someone they know has been targeted by social engineering scams.
With deep discounts, high-speed checkouts, and an influx of mobile payments, shoppers believe the 2025 holiday season is shaping up to be the most vulnerable yet.
“AI is changing the fraud landscape faster than mobile businesses can react,” said Tom Tovar, Co-Creator and CEO of Appdome. “Consumers want proof that apps can stop fraud before a holiday purchase is made, not after the damage is done.”
How AI Is Supercharging Holiday Fraud
This year, AI-assisted fraud has escalated through tactics such as deepfake payment confirmations, vishing, and bot-driven account takeovers—threats that are increasingly difficult for users to detect.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 67.2% of Filipinos view AI as an opportunity, while 32.8% see it as a direct threat to their mobile safety.
- 84.1% expect apps to block AI-powered dangers such as bots, deepfakes, impersonation attempts, and ATOs.
- Only 60% feel confident that apps can actually protect them—revealing a wide trust gap during the busiest shopping season.
This growing “AI paradox” challenges mobile banking, e-commerce, fintech, travel, and delivery apps to provide strong, visible in-app protection as holiday transactions peak.
Filipino Shoppers Demand Fraud Prevention, Not Reimbursement
As the holiday sales push accelerates, consumers say security must happen in real time, not after the fact:
- 86.7% expect fraud to be stopped before it occurs—not compensated afterward.
- 45.9% believe responsibility lies with the mobile app maker, not the device, OS, or telco provider.
- 70% consider privacy extremely important, and 15.2% refuse to use apps without clear privacy protections.
“Holiday shopping is when attackers strike hardest,” said Jamie Bertasi, Appdome’s Chief Customer Officer. “AI enables bad actors to mimic real users, hijack sessions, and trigger fake transactions. Protection inside the app is critical for safeguarding both customers and revenue.”
Why Mobile Apps Must Act Before Christmas Spending Peaks
Record-high mobile spending is expected between Black Friday and December 31, making apps primary targets:
- Fast, high-volume transactions open the door to synthetic identity fraud.
- Attackers use AI to scale mobile scams exponentially.
- Consumer loyalty now depends strongly on visible, real-time protection.
Filipino shoppers say they’re more likely to support brands that actively protect them:
- 27.6% would leave positive reviews for secure apps.
- 24.7% would promote those apps on social media.
About the Report
Appdome’s 2025 Consumer Expectations of Mobile App Security Report analyzes emerging fraud threats and user expectations from respondents across the Philippines and global markets.
Read the full study here: https://www.appdome.com/mobile-consumer-cyber-security-survey/