Stores in the Philippines preparing for 11.11, 12.12, and Christmas sales need to spot payment fraud without blocking real purchases, according to Fiuu, a digital payment services provider.
More orders, new shoppers, and customers trying again after a failed payment are common during sales. Fiuu said stores should consider these changes when checking payments for fraud.
“Security should protect genuine customers, not become an obstacle for them,” said Eng Sheng Guan, CEO of Fiuu. “During major promotional campaigns, payment decisions should be informed by transaction context so that legitimate purchases continue to move smoothly while activity that warrants closer scrutiny can be identified.”
Digital payments accounted for 64.7% of retail payment transactions by volume in 2025, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Fiuu said a failed payment does not always mean fraud. A customer may lack enough funds, have trouble verifying their identity, or lose their connection. A bank may also decline the payment. Knowing what went wrong helps stores assist customers or investigate suspicious activity.
Repeated failed attempts using different payment details may need a closer look. Someone could be testing whether card details work or trying to use another person’s payment information without permission.
“The first step is understanding what the payment data is telling you,” Eng said. “A transaction pattern that appears unusual on a normal day may be entirely expected during a large promotional campaign. The goal is to distinguish genuine customer behavior from activity that requires further attention.”
Before a sale, stores should work with their payment providers to review fraud checks and how they verify customers. These checks should take into account the expected increase in purchases.
During and after a sale, stores should track repeated payment failures, unusual activity, and customer questions. This can help them find problems and make payments easier for shoppers.
Fiuu adjusts its fraud checks to account for expected shopping activity during major sales and limited-edition product launches. This helps stores check for suspicious payments while reducing interruptions for genuine customers.
“The objective is not to make payments more complicated,” Eng said. “It’s about applying the right controls where they matter while allowing genuine customers to complete their purchases as smoothly as possible.”