New telephone scam targeting families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has been tracked by the Philippine Embassy in London.

Based on the report of the Philippine Embassy to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), scammers target relatives of Filipino workers in London to obtain money.

Their modus: Scammers who claims to be an agent or officer of Philippine Embassy in UK contacts the family of an OFW in UK informing them that their relative has been arrested or been involved in an accident. They will inform the family to send money immediately to release their relartive from prison or hospital and to process his/her documents to send him/her back to the Philippines.

Moreover, DFA further claims that their services and its embassies and consulates all over the world in FREE. DFA also clarifies that coordination with PFW families in the Philippines is primarily made through the DFA in Manila.  In urgent cases, the Embassy may call the family directly to convey information or secure other details or authorizations from the family, but they are not allowed to get money.

The DFA also warns OFWs to not disclose the personal information of their relatives in the Philippines to strangers, illegitimate bank or remittance companies and to unsolicited emails.

In case of any suspicious telephone calls, allegedly emanating from the DFA or any of its Embassies and Consulates and/or which follow the above-mentioned modus operandi, the public may contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate or the DFA's Office of Intelligence and Security at (632) 831-8921 or at ois@dfa.gov.ph .