DTI warns public about text scams

6 August 2007

Alert: Text scam

It usually starts with a text message informing the receiver that he or she has won a substantial amount of money in a raffle conducted by a government agency, foundation, or private corporation. But before one can receive the prize, one must first fork over a fee, or deposit it in bank account. Others are sometimes told to send a prepaid load in lieu of paying a tax for the transaction.

This is the beginning of a text scam. And it has continued to victimize many cellular phone users.

That is why the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has coordinated with the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to identify subscriber identity module (SIM) numbers used in text scams. In the first quarter of 2007, NTC has succeeded in blocking 212 SIMs.

The DTI said that during the first three months of the year, it received 531 inquiries in the validity of text messages indicating they had won a huge amount of money. In fact, there are reports that text scams originating from the Philippines have already victimized overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well.

It also stressed that a text message could be part of a scam it it was sent using an ordinary 11-digit cellular phone number, and that the announcement of a DTI permit number does not necessarily authenticate a sales promotion because scammers usually give random numbers.

"Do not be gullible," said DTI Secretary  Peter B. Favila.

If you receive such text messages, call DTI at 751.3330, or NTC at 926.772 and 924.4084, text DTI<space> REPORT to 2920, or send an e-mail to ospac@ntc.gov.ph