“There is a need to investigate how these fraudsters accessed the mobile phone numbers of postpaid subscribers and to take measures that would enhance the protection of mobile subscribers,” said Senator Manuel Lapid in a Senate resolution calling for an investigation.
Globe previously released several methods for determining when a fraud is legitimate or when it is a scam.
- The message sender comes from an 11-digit mobile number
According to Globe, legitimate text messages received from them or other companies authorized to send text instructions will be classified accordingly and will not come from an unspecified mobile number. This applies even if the text of the text message claims to be “GLOBE ADVISORY”.
"Subscribers may validate texts and unusual calls with the company’s customer service agents," Yuli Cresanto, Globe’s senior vice president of corporate communications, said in the consultancy.
- Enter an amount of money or send a message to another number
Spoofed text messages aim to extort money or load funds from others by tricking them into entering a “Share-A-Load” transaction. The fraudulent text falsely accuses the subscriber of incurring an additional fee and provides the victim with a message format to send to a mobile phone number to recover the alleged amount.
Crisanto said that by “adding the number“ 2 ”before the recipient’s 10-digit cell phone number, the unsuspecting subscriber would have performed the Share-A-Load transaction, so the sum of 500 pesos in the two examples above would be moving or adding credit to the prepaid number that The message has been sent to him.
3. Win the alleged raffle prizes
Globe has also warned about text scams that involve winning prizes from raffles and outlines the steps for how a customer can claim the alleged prize. However, these scams are intended to trick customers into giving them money or loading credits in exchange for a prize draw that does not exist. If you have not joined any sweepstakes, do not believe any text message about winning it.
4. Relatives are in trouble abroad
Among the most common deceptive text messages are those who seek help from relatives facing trouble abroad. It is alleged that “the relative” encountered problems during a trip abroad and requested some form of financial assistance, often through download credits or sometimes through money transfer services.
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“Another text fraud involving relatives working abroad is supposed to be using a new prepaid number, and it is also intended to deceive subscribers into conducting a Share-A-Load transaction,” Globe said in its statement.
5. Governmental agencies do not conduct transactions through text messages
In the past, there were several text messages claiming to be from the “President Aquino Foundation” telling the subscriber that hundreds of thousands of pesos had been won in a draw. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was involved in the scam when the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino or Conditional Transfer Program was cited as a draw host.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Solomon issued a general advice saying their agency does not hold a lottery. There is also no institution of President Benigno Aquino.
“Globe customers are advised not to respond, and instead, to report suspicious text messages immediately to Globe’s approved customer service channels. Customers can report cell phone numbers used to send fraudulent or fraudulent text messages,” said Chrisanto