Thursday, January 31, 2008 Negros Oriental target of text scammers By Edmund B. Sestoso
THE province of Negros Oriental has recently become a target of the country's text scammers or high tech swindlers because of the growing number of families with relatives who are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
This was bared by Paulita Enrile, acting deputy director for the Dumaguete branch of the government's Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). She sent advisories to media outlets to warn the public especially families of OFWs.
In an official statement, she said text scammers usually victimize relatives and families of OFWs.
She added that the syndicate is operated by a group of experts who send a text message to OFW relatives informing that the victim won a huge amount of money from a supposed raffle draw of the BSP.
"In most cases the suspect would lure the victim to give a big amount and to send pre-paid loads or money for the processing of documents," Enrile explained.
Once the amount is given, the suspect stops contacting the victim.
Identity of the text swindlers is hard to trace as they use fictitious names and addresses. They at times use names of government officials.
The local office of the BSP ask the public's support in informing them right away of any attempts of this syndicate to extort money through texting.
Enrile said the BSP never conducts any raffle activity.
