Filipino blogger Ion Gonzaga, known as Boy Dubai, has urged the public to be more vigilant against online fraud after experiencing two fraudulent transactions on his bank cards within just six months.
Gonzaga shared his ordeal on Facebook on May 15, 2025, recounting how he became a victim of unauthorized transactions. The first incident involved over 2,000 dirhams for an online purchase of a watch. Fortunately, he quickly reported the incident, and his bank, RAKBANK, managed to reverse the transaction within 30 days.
However, just last week, he was hit again—this time, a fraudulent charge of 2,200 USD (approximately 11,000 dirhams) was used to book a resort in Tanzania. Gonzaga only discovered the transaction when his Apple Pay was declined, prompting him to check his account.
“Thank God the bank acted swiftly. Now we’re just waiting, hoping it’ll be reversed as the one before,” Gonzaga wrote, expressing both relief and frustration.
The blogger emphasized the importance of vigilance in online transactions and shared safety tips with his followers:
- Avoid saving card details on websites, especially those you do not fully trust.
- Enable SMS and app notifications for all transactions.
- Use virtual or disposable cards if available.
Gonzaga’s post sparked a wave of comments from his followers, many of whom shared similar experiences. Roche Balila recounted how she fell victim to unauthorized transactions while traveling in Georgia. Her credit card limit was drained, but RAKBANK was able to reverse the fraudulent charges. Another follower, Saudia Ann, advised always blocking cards when not in use for added security.
