Handog Pangkabuhayan Text Scam

Congratulations! Ur sim. no. had won (P650,000) thru electronic raffle draw fr: PGMA charity foundation w/ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "Handog Pangkabuhayan"! to claim ur prize.! call me now!! i'm atty. Rex C. Mendez frm.BSP info. Dpt Per-DTI#3920 series of 2008.

Sent by +63-915-7810115

Goodness! I really do abhor these text scammers! I've received quite a number of these, but today it was my Mom who received the message. I told her to ignore it, but she was curious and actually called up the so-called Atty. Mendez.

Hataw mambola!

He first explained that the BSP is celebrating an occasion and PGMA was giving away money. They got numbers from NTC and rafflled it off - one winner each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. And then he asked the name of the owner of the mobile phone (that's me! my Mom's using one of my phones) and proceeded to request for my account number. They will just deposit the money and no need to show up.

You wish!

I was appalled. This so-called Atty. Mendez was a smooth talker. If my Mom did not know any better she would've probably given an account number and they would've probably found a way to get money from the account. Good thing though Globe sends reminder messages about these meanies once in a while.

Now let's deconstruct the message -

Congratulations! Ur sim. no. had won (P650,000) thru electronic raffle draw
- If it was an eletronic raffle how come you did not define my number in your message? You said that you got listings from NTC, how come you asked for the name of the owner of the mobile phone? You also claim to award winners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, how do you actually determine that the mobile phone owner is from LuzVi or Min? You obviously just sent it to random numbers.

fr: PGMA charity foundation w/ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "Handog Pangkabuhayan"!
- You said that it was for the anniversary of BSP, what does a charity foundation have to do with it? It's just all so strange.

to claim ur prize.! call me now!! i'm atty. Rex C. Mendez frm.BSP info. Dpt Per-DTI#3920 series of 2008.
- I used to handle promos for my previous job and it just doesn't work this way dude. Plus, I do not think esteemed lawyers would risk their good name for a promo. It so doesn't sound prudent. DTI is also very strict with requirements when you apply for a permit for a promo. My ad agency had to go back several times to DTI just to obtain the permit. And I find it strange that a government agency would use a DTI permit number (check the requirements and go figure). I hope DTI publishes approved permits on their website so consumers can check easily (I tried checking but couldn't find it).

Sent by +63-915-7810115
- And mister, promos do not go by ordinary mobile phone numbers. Telcos normally provide 3 to 4 digit numbers for this and you have to work with a mobile content provider to have this.

Just. Get. Lost. I hope the authorities find you and jail you for doing this to your fellow Filipinos.

I am ANNOYED. Text scammers! Boooo!!!