JEDDAH, 13 March 2005 — “You have just won P5 million in an electronic draw sponsored by the PCSO. Kindly reply to this number to get instructions on how to claim your winnings.”
If you have received this "text" or SMS message and replied to it, then you’ve been had.
The next message you would likely receive would be: “Kindly remit P20k to Mr. Mamerto de Leon, at PNB Escolta Branch, a/c no. 356-384-752.”
The PCSO referred to in the message is the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which conducts lottery draws daily and sweepstakes draws weekly. PNB is Philippine National Bank, which has its main office at Escolta in Manila.
The text message sender, who by this time is already your new “textmate,” will explain that the money covers the taxes on your winnings. The sender will also point out, in a very convincing manner, that your payment is required for claiming your prize.
To give you a feeling of security, your “textmate” will identify himself or herself as a government employee, someone who is willing to help you — the worthy winner of P5 million.
As most swindlers do, the “textmate” uses the conman’s trick of being nice to you and to get your trust.
The textmate will try to convince you not to be surprised because your name had been randomly selected as lucky winner by a computer.
“The game confidence men play is to exploit a person’s innate greed,” explained one OFW in Jeddah who admits to almost falling to a similar trick by “pyramid scam practitioners.”
After you remit the money or deposit it in a bank account in the Philippines as instructed, and after your textmate has taken all your money, you won’t hear from him/her anymore.
The swindler may also use the name of other government agencies like Pagcor — the government’s premiere gambling agency in charge of casinos — or even the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as sponsor of the fictitious electronic raffle.
Because of complaints, the central bank in Manila has asked OFWs to report the matter to the Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat should they receive the message as described above.
The secretariat could be found at 5/F, EDPC Building, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Manila. It can also be reached at 00632-3023982 or 00632-5247011 local 2372.
