Netizen exposes text scammers using Aquino’s foundation

Screengrab from the instagram account of a disgruntled netizen who received the text scam allegedly from “President Aquino Foundation”. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A text scam allegedly from President Benigno Aquino’s foundation has raffled off nearly a million pesos in an attempt to lure unsuspecting victims.

In a text message received by a disgruntled netizen on Monday, a certain Carmen Tan claims that a prize of P950,000 from “President Aquino Foundation” was raffled off and that the mobile phone owner won such a prize.

“Congratulations, you won 2nd prize worth of (Php950,000.00) drawn 03/16/14 from; President Aquino Foundation per DTI NCR#8103-2013,” the text message, a screenshot of which was uploaded by the netizen, said.

“Call us now, I’m Carmen Tan,” it added.

When the phone number indicated (0935-878-7326) was called, a woman, who said she was Carmen Tan, instructed “tumawag ho kayo gamit yung winning number (please call using the winning number).”

The call was immediately dropped afterwards and further calls were no longer answered.

A check with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) showed that the permit number indicated in the text message belonged to a different promo and did not belong to any such “President Aquino Foundation”

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) complaints desk when told about the text message said that there are no such raffles and that they have received many complaints already.

A formal complaint letter can be filed with them in order to have the mobile number, which sends out the text scams blocked.

When asked why such scams continue to proliferate, they said that the perpetrators simply change to a new prepaid SIM card when one gets blocked.

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