Text Message Scam in the Philippines Using “Winnings” to Lure Victims

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Text Message Scam in the Philippines Using “Winnings” to Lure Victims. A few seconds ago as of this writing, I received a text message on my cellphone saying:

“Congratulations!U have won 300k Pesos+Starex Van, ur Sim# as a homepartner last April.30,2011 for info:Call ds#:09427641440Dir: marcel Tan of Phil:Com.Center”

That was the text verbatim with the cases and spaces intact. I don’t judge a book by its cover so I gave the promo the benefit of the doubt and called the number mentioned.

Mr. Tan answered the phone and asked who I was. I said that I received his text about winning money and a vehicle. He asked for my name but since I was skeptical I requested that he introduce himself first. Without any hesitation he said,

“Gago ka!”

… and dropped the call.

From the onset, the text message was screaming scam. Truth be told, the guy who sent the message was a lousy scammer. Here is a list of what gave him away:

  • Lousy English. Yes it is a text message but if you want to scam someone, make it look and sound professional to be more convincing.

  • No DTI Promo Permit Number. Any promo or winnings in the Philippines should have this and the text message did not have one. A dead giveaway.

This is not a quick lesson on scamming but I simply want to point out how a scam text looks like. If you have received such a text message, there is a government agency to handle that. Simply log your complaint online via the DTI complaint page or call them at (02)7513330.

If you have similar experiences, please share them below via a comment so we can act on this together. You could post the message they sent you and the number they used to send you the message so that vigilant users can see this page and hopefully be protected from these scams.

Comments

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Published by Paolo Caesar

106 Replies to “Text Message Scam in the Philippines Using “Winnings” to Lure Victims”

  1. I received the following sms (this is the exact msg that I have received)

    ” CONGRATS! Ur roam# had won $40,000. via electronic rafle draw.Brought 2 u by YUCHENGO FNDTN.4 more details, Pls.Call rytnow! SEC.ZENY PADILLA. # 09091353101.”

    On the next day they send again sms

    “LAST NOTICE: This is to inform you that your given 24hrs to claim your prize before it will be forfeited.Pls call rytnow!Sec.Zeny Padilla.#09091353101.”

    These were the exact format of messages that I have received from mobile no. +639485717483.

    If you could notice, they even conserve the text characters so that each message is fit to 1 sms.

    Please be warned for this fraud using mobile no. +639485717483.

  3. The following message was sent to my husband’s cell just this morning. It came from 09154565029. Per your advice, I called DTI at 7513330 but was informed that the agency does not accept text scam complaints; I was adviced instead to call NTC at 9213251. My attempts to contact NTC were all to no avail as the phone just kept ringing. Lgging on to the NTC website was also useless as ‘the webpage could not found : (

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your # WON TOYOTA AVANZA w/ 300 thou via electronic last Dec. 19,2011.For details,please call now STEVE BURGOS.of Phil.Info.Center on this #

  5. I just received a message also from this exact number. I googled the number and stumbled upon your page. I’m just so sick of these scammers trying to find innocent people they can fool.

    The message this number sent me was very similar to yours but this time the contact person is a certain “Steve Burgos”.

    I’m sending DTI a complaint. Hope they can do something about this.

  6. I’m surprised they are not using another number(sim). But you go ahead and file that complaint.

  7. I just received this text from this number +639359818336…….Congratulation! U’r Sim# had won (Php.950,000.00) from:PHIL’S CHARITY FOUNDATION! Sponsored by: SAN MIGUEL BEER INC. To claim u’r prize! CAll me now! I’m Atty. Nicanor V. Fuentes. DTI-Per#0925 s’12

    this number texted me twice

  9. They texted me again. The same message but from a different number => 09322847283

  10. +63905-674-4617 this fool text me, he said i won 950k from san miguel corporation with dti number 4417-0045 last night, so i decided to text him, that it should be a special number not an ordinary cel number, the good part is i report him and post his number at the flood brigade right now i’m assuming he cannot use his cel phone anymore for receiving 5000 messages. cel phone destroyed 🙂

  11. I also received a text scam from this number 09422667128. The message said that “Congratulations! U have won php.300k+fortuner car, ur Sim#. As a homepartner last June 03, 2012 for info. Call ds #. 09422667128Dir. james Roa of Phil.Com.Center.” that was the exact text message I received. It is obviously not a professional type of text messaging and a simple and common number was used. Hope you can avoid also this number and name.

  13. last night I received a text message saying;
    CONGRATS UR sim#won 2nd prize winner php.950.000.00 last 8/27/2012 from Phillippine Charity Foundation pls call me now im Atty: Danilo Espilita DTI permit#7591.

    An attorney who doesn’t know how to spell his own country’s name!!!!!

  15. i received today(september 11,2012 08:55:05am a text message like this (congratulations!last sept/10/12 ur cell # had won!850,000+laptop 3rd WINNER from:PCCNS DTI#7330s2012.please call me now im atty.carlo v.diaz…HIS CELLPHONE NUMBER TEXTED ME 09276628024..

  16. I just got this message
    “From PCSO Manila this is Tonette Escario host of Pcso lotto draw if ur ntrestd 2 bet thissuertes # & last 2#, call me now i will give u a sure #”
    This came from this number: 905-556-7086.

    watch out people!

  18. I received 15 more messages from a scam says ;
    From Yuchengco Fndtn:24 hrs is given to you to claim your prize before it will be forfeited. Call Ms.Ana Salud immediately.contact #09467987223 from:+639099373271

    MILESTONE Phil.Charity Foundation Informed you, that your Intl.Roaming No. is one of the lucky OFW EXCELLENT AWARD amounting to (40,000USD) txt now your complete .Add in Abroad:Add.in Phils.
    Roaming #:contact #:
    Passport #: Email Add:
    And send to Atty. Grace B. Quito# 09305112338
    Have Blessed Day!
    From:+639099236803

    I hope the goverment do something to catch and in jail the scammer.

  20. i received a txt message too…same as everyone is posting here. What i did? i called the number and then i hear a ring back tone , or i think its a recorded voice of a girl saying ” the owner of this phone prepares to give you the following on christmas day: a brand new mercedez benz,a condominium unit in makati”…etc then someone answered the phone with a very nice greeting..then i answered: Scammer! do u want me to report your number? and didnt you knew i recorded this call? lagot ka ngaun hahaha.:)

  21. Do not trust this number-09279464885..i repeat do not trust this number–the wannabe–> ATTY. HERNAN C.RUFINO

  22. I don’t have my phone with me but I received a text message from a person named Joyce P. Madrigal a secretary working for San Miguel Corporation informing me that my simcard number had won 650,000. I just ignored the text message, then today upon checking my phone while on lunch, somebody from San Miguel again texted me again and it was from a Sec Carlo T. Diaz. I replied to his text asking if he’s associated with joyce p madrigal and I told him that I have friends who works for San Miguel and his text was forwarded to my legal counsel. After 10 minutes I received a call from Carlo T. Diaz of San Miguel.
    He said that my sim card had won from the raffle held last Nov 5 and they get sim card number from NTC (which I doubt, because NTC don’t allow to disclose any simcard numbers). He said that as soon as they received my personal information via text they will give me a call back after 10-15 minutes.
    The guy that I’ve spoken with was not comfortable speaking in English and requested me to speak in Tagalog instead which made me think if he really works for San Miguel.
    If this is a Scam, I have a trap that will shut them off..

  24. sa tingin ko nagsisimula din ang mga text scam na to sa nagwowork sa mga telecommunication companies

    in my case kasi
    kakabili ko lang ng simcard

    after to 2 to 3 hours
    ni hindi pa naman ako nakakapagload at naibibigay ung number ko sa mga kakilala ko biglang may nagtext na nanalo ako ng etc. etc.

    dapat lahat ng nagwowork sa mga telecommunication companies may monitoring sa mga tao nila

    nakakabadtrip talaga!

  26. Same as the other posts here.yesterday,i also recieve a txt message & it goes like this:MILESTONE Phil. Charity FoundationInform you,that your Intl. Roaming No. is one of a (choosen) for OFW EXCELLENCE AWARD.Txt now your Complete Name: Add. in Abroad: Add. in Phils.: Roaming #: Contact #: Passport #: Email.Add:and send to Atty.JUANITA B. ROBLES mobile no.09124679852.this message came from the # +639099236803.

    Today i recieve again.they send me this sms containing the ff:
    Transmittors Name:Allan R. Ayeng/ADD.:111 F. Roman St. Brgy. Balum Bato,San Juan City Philippines.they send me this bcoz they told me to send 178 us dollars for the transmittal fee.

  27. Hey, i also recieved a message like this, i always receive these, not a month goes by without me receiving it, and its really annoying, so this time, today, i received one again from PSCO now, same point in the message, you won, call us etc. etc.

    So what i did was I spammed messages about 300times to his number, haha, then later i received a call from the number, he mustve gotten pissed XD

    Still, If you receive txt msgs like these, my solution would be spam them with messages, so that they can be discouraged in doing these scams knowing that if they send these again their sim card will be spammed again.

    I hope you guys follow my solution, \m/

  28. i mean, come on, who the hell are they trying to scam? only fools would fall for this, remember, you don’t get money just by buying a simcard.

  29. I also received same text message that I won toyota Avanza..lol…I replied but he did not answered back..

    What is really their motives?

  31. I BECAME A VICTIM THIS DECEMBER 10, 2012. I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A CELLPHONE NUMBER +639073218979 AND ITS TEXT: “SMART GIFT! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON 300 FREETXT AND 500 FREELOAD FROM SMARTLOAD VIA ELECTRONIC RAFFLE TO ALL SMART/TNT SUBSCRIBER. TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE JUST TYPE 500(SPACE)09284305736 AND SEND IT TO 343. ITS THE BIGGEST EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT OF SMART NATIONWIDE!!! DTI (7763) SERIES OF 2012”. THEN I FOLLOW ITS INSTRUCTIONS WITHOUT KNOWING THAT I AM ALREADY LOADING THE CEL# 09284305736 A 500 PESOS LOAD. THEN MY LOADWALLET WAS DEDUCTED A 500 LOAD AMOUNT.
    I RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE FROM 09073218979

  33. Received a text msg. Jan.4 2013,at 12:59 Am saying:

    Congratulations!Last Oct.26 2012 Your Cell # Had Won!Php 300K +Starex Van
    WINNER from:
    Phil Com.Center.Please Call me now! Dir. Arnold Suarez#
    09324251772

  34. Just received a text message from 09058157554 at 2:20 PM saying:

    From: (PCF) Congratulations Ur sim# had won (php780,000) 2nd prize winner sponsored by congr. MANNY PACQUIAO.To claim ur prize call me now Atty.RUSSEL LOPEZ MIRANDA dti-permit no#.2827 s’2012.

  35. milestone Phil.charity foundation ….inform u,that ur intl.roaming # is one of the lucky ofw excellent award amounting to(40,000U$D).text now ur complete name..add in abroad…add in phils …roaming #..contact#….passport #….email add…and send to atty.juanita b.robles .#09124679852…have a bless day!from 09485436284….this send this message to me…..the following day 09102712260 message me:mpcf/op&ip 15th ps…informing u now that cheque containing$40,000 usd must be claim within 72hrs. OFW excellent award giving body is ready for wave.for more info pls…call atty.juanita b.robles trunkline #09124679852

  36. Just received this message(Jan. 8, 2013):
    Congrats ! Ur Sim # Had Won Php 850,000.00 from: PAGCCOR 2nd Prize winner, to claim Pls. Call Me Now I’m ATTY.JAY T.SANTIAGO. Per DTI 3443 S’2013

    tsl… why won’t these scammers just stop! Man, a real pain >:I

  37. How does the flood brigade work? The one sniper 007 mentioned in his post?

    I just got the same text message minutes ago and immediately googled it and found this site.

  39. Hi Paolo, would you know the software used by Sniper 007 for the Flood Brigade? Im interested on this as well since I always receive such text messages that i just delete but if there is a software i can use, it will be a good payback. 🙂

  40. “my girlfriend is also a victim of this scam”

    the following numbers has been used

    +639307576649

    +639307407930

  41. I just received this text message today:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!Your # WON TOYOTA HILUX G. w/ 300 thou via electronic raffle last Dec. 14.2012.For details, please call now MIGUEL ANG. Of Phil.Info.Center on this #.

    Sender:09051604874

    i know this is a scam that’s why i look for the same on the net and i came up to this site.

  42. i also received a text message that i am a winner of $25,000 in Pangkabuhayang handog bigay ng yuchenco foundation. the text message was came from a name Yvonne tan.
    sana naman ung mga ganitong pangyayari ang unahin ng mga nakaupo sa gobyerno natin..
    kawawa naman ung bmga nabibiktima.

  43. hi, i just received a message an hour ago saying the same thing. this was the exact text message:

    Ma’am / sir Congrat’s. Ur mobile # won (Php850,000.00) “HANDOG PANGKABUHAY’ by “GMA KAPUSO Foundation’s” Sponsored by: “Congr’MANNY PACQUIAO”Toclaim Ur Prize Plz txt Ur NAME, ADD, AGE and Call me now! I’m ATTY: Carlos C. Martinez BSP-INFO-DPT DTI-NCR/Permit # 10622 series of 2013

    Sender’s Mobile No. is +639161819356

    I was trying to google a site where I could report this kind of incident and I came across your blog.

  44. Recently, I have been bombarded by texts that similarly read:

    SUN ADVISORY

    You are eligible for 50% credit limit increase.

    To avail

    Txt 50 [sun cell #] send to 2292.

    I received texts from the following nos.: 09423608770, 09423608825, 09423608793, 09423608791.

    If you actually text the numbers to 2292, you will be giving the scammer a P50 load.

    Sun Cellular should already take action against these people using its network to perpetrate the scam and protect its honest and loyal subscribers from being scammed. A simple change in its give-a-load procedure (such as requiring a password from the the one giving load) could already put an end to such a scam.

  45. CONGRATS!
    from:PRESIDENT
    N0Y-N0Y AQUINO FOUNDATION.4PS-PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM.
    your SIM #
    won!
    PHP950,000.00
    2nd prize winner,
    “Handog pang-kabuhayan” raffle promo!DTI P#.9513,S’13,pls txt yr cmplete name age address work, IM BETH SANCHEZ

    Nkakaasar ung ganyan

  46. Congratulations! U won Php. 386k+TOYOTA Fortuner. ur sim# as homepartner last Jan. 6,2013. for info: call ds #09234872547. Dir. Daniel Inigo of Phil.com.center

    yan ang txt na natanggap ko…

  47. Received a text msg. april 03, 2013,at 9:56:20 am saying:

    Congratulations!Last Oct.26 2012 Your Cell # Had Won!Php 300K +Starex Van
    WINNER from:
    Phil Com.Center.Please Call me now! Dir. Arnold Suarez#
    09333412988

    Huwag po kayong maniwala dito… maraming number ang ginagamit ni Arnold Suarez na iyan… pag nakabiktima… sapat na sapat ang pera na nadinggoy niya para pambili ng sim na gagamitin sa panloloko….

    Sana ma aksiyonan naman po ng nasa NTC ito… Gising po nman jan…

  48. hi, my husband’s cellphone received two text messages just today and missed calls from 0906-9053860..
    the exact text was the same with dea, sent March 22, 2013

    1st message:
    NOTICE!! your sim won your SIM #
    won!
    PHP950,000.00
    2nd prize winner, from President NOYNOY AQUINO
    “Handog pang-kabuhayan” raffle promo!DTI P#.9513,S’13. FOR INFO ;PLS text ur NAME/AGE/ADDRESS/OCCUPATION.

    2ND text message:

    OFFICE ADDRESS AQUINO FOUNDATION Don Mariano Bldg. Room 705 General Solano st. San Miguel manila DTI permit no. 9513 s=13 SEC.REG.No.

    …kawawa nman ang mga taong maloko ng mga taong ito. sana may action ang ating NTC sa problemang ito kasi ginagawang pangkabuhayan ng ibang tao ang panloloko sa kapwa sa pamamagitan nitong scam sa text.

    salamat sa page mo Paolo Caesar, nakakatulong kahit papano..

  50. i just received a while ago a text message, “Congratulations! Last Feb.8, 2013 Your Cell# Had won! Php300k+Starex Van WINNER. from: Phil.Com.Center. Please call me now! Dir.Jay Flores #093121657276″…………..text scam as usual.

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