As Filipino shoppers head into the busiest mobile shopping season of the year, new research from Appdome’s fifth annual Consumer Expectations of Mobile App Security Report shows rising anxiety over synthetic fraud, identity theft, and AI-driven scams. Industry data from NordLayer, SEON, and Kaspersky indicates fraud attempts jump anywhere from 22 percent to more than four times during Cyber Week, and Appdome’s new survey reflects that heightened risk.
The report shows that 43.4 percent of Filipinos fear identity fraud most when shopping on mobile, 74.7 percent delete or abandon apps over fraud or security concerns, and 34.1 percent say they or someone they know has been a victim of social engineering scams. With steep discounts, fast-paced checkouts, and heavy mobile payments converging, consumers believe this holiday season is primed for fraud.
“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 their apps can stop fraud before a holiday purchase is made, not after the damage is done.”
Appdome reports that AI-driven scams such as deepfake payment approvals, vishing attacks, and bot-driven account takeovers now fuel much of the holiday fraud surge. While 67.2 percent of Filipinos see AI as an opportunity, 32.8 percent view it as a threat to mobile app safety, and 84.1 percent expect apps to block AI-powered dangers like bots, deepfakes, impersonation, and account takeovers. Only 60.0 percent, however, feel confident apps can stop these threats, revealing a major trust gap. This “AI paradox” is putting intense pressure on banking, retail, fintech, travel, and delivery apps to show visible in-app protection during the peak shopping period.
Filipino consumers now overwhelmingly expect prevention over reimbursement. The survey shows 86.7 percent prioritize stopping fraud before it happens, 45.9 percent say app makers are responsible for preventing attacks, and 70.0 percent say privacy is very important, with 15.2 percent refusing to use apps that lack clear safeguards. “Holiday shopping is when attackers strike hardest,” said Jamie Bertasi, Chief Customer Officer at Appdome.
“AI lets bad actors mimic real users, hijack sessions, and trigger fraudulent transactions. Stopping these attacks inside the app is essential to protecting customers and revenue during the busiest shopping seasons of the year.”
With record mobile spending expected from Black Friday through year-end, the findings highlight how high-velocity transactions create ideal conditions for synthetic identity fraud and account takeovers. Attackers are now using AI to scale and automate mobile scams at unprecedented speed, and consumer trust can shift instantly toward brands that demonstrate visible protection. The report shows 27.6 percent of users would leave positive reviews for apps that protect them, and 24.7 percent would promote secure apps on social media.
Appdome’s full report is available on its website. The company’s mission is to protect mobile businesses and users from scams, fraud, bots, and attacks through its AI-Native XTM Platform, which generates on-demand defenses for Android and iOS apps and provides real-time threat analysis, prevention, and remediation.
