Text messaging has revolutionize the modes of communication and made it very easy to send a message to anyone. Unfortunately it has also made it convenient and easy for swindlers to conduct their illegal activities. Nowadays there are various modus operandi that victimize people by simply sending a fraudulent text message.

After numerous reminders from government agencies against the proliferation of text scams, the swindlers fearlessly continue sending their messages and still a number of people are falling in their traps.

For this reason, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decidd to issue another advisory urging the public including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be wise so they will not be fooled by text scammers.

Text scammers use fictitious names or pose as government officials, send fraudulent text messages to their victims saying that their mobile phone numbers won in a raffle allegedly sponsored by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or other institutions. The scammers tell their victims that to be able to claim their alleged prize, they should first send money to the scammers thru a designated account in a bank or remittance company.

The scammers also require their victims to send prepaid load to the scammers'prepaid mobile phone numbers. Once the scammers receive the money and prepaid load, the victims would no longer be able to get in touch with them again. The BSP reiterates that they do not conduct raffles.

In case you or someone you know have been victimized by this type of scam, here’s what you can do:

Report text scam incidents immediately to the following:

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL SECRETARIAT

5/F, EDPC Building, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Manila

Tel: 302-3982 . 524-7011 local 2372

FINANCIAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS GROUP

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

E-mail address: consu meraffairs@bsp.gov.ph

Tel: (+632) 523-3631 . (+632) 524-7011 local 2584

CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICE

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

BSP Complex, Mabini St. Manila

Tel: 523-4832 . 524-7011 local 2259