by Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, JAN. 31(PIA)---The Department of Trade and Industry has warned the public against the text scams perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals t victimizing innocent civilians through text messages not only in the province of Zamboanga del Norte but all the over the country as well.
The DTI issued the warning amidst report that some individuals have received text messages informing their would-be victim that their mobile phone number has won in an electronic raffle, even going to the extent of using DTI as the authorizing agency.
Other modus operandi used by the suspects is that they would claim to be a relatives of someone abroad sending a package to a would-be victim or that they are offering a million-peso worth of loan without any collateral but would ask for an advance payment for the processing of the loan.
According to the complaints, they were asked by somebody allegedly connected with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office some favors for the processing of the release of the prize won. Some of which is the provision of cell-phone load and/or advance payment for the expenses that maybe incurred in facilitating the release of the prize.
The DTI reiterated that a legitimate electronic promotions bear a special three or four-digit from the National Telecommunications Commission and not seven as usually used by the suspect allegedly issued by the DTI.
The local office of the DTI in the province urges the public to call its DTI direct line 751-330 for any clarification on the alleged text scam and not voluntarily submit to what is demanded by the suspect.(ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)