A minor was targeted by a scammer who falsely narrated that the former’s aunt figured in an accident and urgently needed money, according to a report by Vonne Aquino on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita on Tuesday.
According to the minor, an unknown person called her and told her that her aunt cannot speak after she suffered an injury from an accident.
The minor was ordered to get the money under her aunt’s closet.
The scammer also told the minor that her aunt advised not to tell her grandmother about their conversation.
When the minor found nothing under the closet, she decided to message her aunt. The aunt told the minor to never pick up the call again and block the unknown caller.
Before the incident, another unknown person who claimed to be a telecom representative asked and gathered personal information from the minor.
The victims are planning to file a complaint to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Authorities called the modus “dugo-dugo 2.0.”
The DICT suspected that scammers are obtaining personal information through phishing websites or surveillance on the social media profile of potential victims.
“Sasabihin nila na-ospital ‘to, naaksidente ‘to, lalo na yung nasa ibang bansa na naka-detain itong kamag-anak niyo,” DICT Assistant Secretary Aboy Paraiso said.
(They will say that they were hospitalized, they had an accident, especially those who are in a foreign country, your relative is detained.)
“Masyado tayong nag-o-overshare sa ating social media pages kung sino ‘yung mga kamag-anak natin, ano ‘yung ginagawa, routines natin, kung nasaan tayo,” he added.
(We overshare information on our social media pages, like who our relatives are, what we do, our routines, where we are.)
As minors and senior citizens are the common targets, authorities advised them not to entertain unknown callers and consult with an adult in their house.
The public was also advised to verify the information that they receive from an unknown caller.
Those who will receive similar calls may reach out to DICT hotline 1326.
One of the solutions being considered to eradicate such scams is amending Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, which was welcomed by the Palace.
“Pagpupursigihin din po natin na maiayos ang batas patungkol dito. Dahil sa ngayon po ‘yung batas patungkol sa SIM card registration, ito po ay isa sa dahilan kung bakit nagkakaroon pa po ng ganitong klaseng text scams,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
(We will also fix the law regarding this. Because of the current law regarding SIM card registration, this is one of the reasons why this type of text scam still exists.) — Joviland Rita/ VDV, GMA Integrated News
