The advent of roaming sim cards is truly beneficial to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are always looking for cheaper ways on how to maintain their communication with their loved ones in the Philippines. However it’s a sad fact that swindlers have also learned how to use this new product to victimize unsuspecting individuals.

The swindlers are able to get money from victims by sending a text message to a person and pretending to be the loved one, friend or relative of them that is currently working or staying overseas.

Have you ever received a text message from an unknown number but contains a casual greeting, followed with the information that it is their new roaming number and a reminder to please send future messages to them there? If you happen to do have a loved one abroad, it is easy to assume that the person who sent the message is really the person you have in mind. Oftentimes, the text message would contain terms of endearment targeting the wife or husband of an OFW.

A typical text message looks like this:

Hi love. Magpapadala n ako ng pera jan. Text nyo aq pag nakuha nyo na. Ito na nga pla ang bago kong roaming number, d2 n ku txt. Wl lang aq load kya d aq maktwg dyan. Tnx

It can be that they send their text messages to several cellphone numbers randomly hoping that someone would reply. This is not so hard considering the number of Filipinos working abroad.

When you do reply, the sender would then inform you about a new business which can let you earn big money fast. While still pretending to be your loved one, the swindler will ask you to buy prepaid cards worth Php 500 or Php1000 each. They would explain that it is a booming business among Filipinos abroad because you can sell it at a much higher price (e.g.: a Php500 card can be sold for 1500).  Apparently all you need to do is purchase the cards and then send the pin numbers to them so they can immediately sell it.

As you go on replying, the swindler will urged you to buy prepaid cards as soon as you can because they already have orders–sometimes ten to 12 pieces at once. The poor victims who all the while think they are talking to their wife, husband or sister abroad would follow the instructions given to them and buy the cards. However, once they send the pin numbers of the call and text cards, they will receive no further reply from the swindler. When they try to call the roaming numbers- they will receive this message: The number you dial is incorrect.

Some text messages would ask for a prepaid load right away. Here is an example:

Muzta n kau dyan sa pinas, miz n miz ko n kyo, e2 nga pla bgo k roaming, nga pla my pa2dla me dyan package mga gmit e2, ingat nlng kau palagi, miz u ol, god bles, nga pala paload muna ng 300 pnta2wg lang aq ng agency q ngkaproblma daw un pastfort q.importnti lng, d2 s # n2. 300 tnx,"

Other version of this scam includes the use of chat portals such as yahoo messenger. Swindlers would hack the email addresses of OFWs and then used it to chat to their loved ones in the Philippines. Victims would think that they are communicating with a person they know because sometimes the scammer would show a webcam with a snapshot of the person. To avoid this, the OFWs and their relatives should be careful in using public computers. Their email accounts can be hacked when they fail to sign out upon leaving.

To avoid being a victim of this scam, take note of the following reminders:

Be suspicious when you receive a text message from an unregistered number. It is best not to reply right away because if it is really important, the person will send the message again.

To be sure that you are talking to your loved one, ask the sender to identify himself. In doing so, be careful not to give any information about you that will give the swindler a clue.

Ask more personal information about the person you are talking to.

Be wary of any person who requires (even pressure) you to shell out huge amounts of money fast. Anyone who offers a venture that involves earning easy money fast is a warning signal.

Spread the news that this type of modus operandi exist to your friend and loved ones so no more individual will be victimized by this scam.