Number of new victims of cell-phone scam rising

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A new cell-phone scam has victimized an increasing number of subscribers in the city.

Many cell-phone owners claimed to have received a notice from mobile number 0918-595-5750 urging them to send a text message to 808 and win P60 worth of free call and text credits.

“Code #2750 Congratulations! You are now entitled to have 60-peso load. Just type [09185955750] and send to 808 and enjoy your load from Smart Simply Amazing!” the text message goes.

One subscriber who claimed to have received the message said he got no reply when he tried contacting the number.

“This is another scam. Smart Telecommunication Inc. has no promo such as this. This is a scheme to get free credit loads from unsuspecting Smart subscribers. The public should be warned about this scam,” the victim said.

“I urge those who received the text message to report the matter to the National Telecommunications Commission to alert the authorities,” he said.

Executives from the local Smart Communications office were not immediately available to comment on the issue. The Smart’s service hotline 888 was also busy most of the time and a recorded message kept saying: “All lines are busy now, please try your call later.”

Some subscribers said they received text messages that said they won thousands of pesos in advertising, promotions and lotteries, and urged them to deposit money in banks as payment for government taxes.

Authorities advised the public not to reply to said messages.
--Al Jacinto Manila Times