VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — With the holiday season in full swing, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 1 is warning the public about common scam schemes and key red flags to watch out for in suspicious messages.
NTC-1 Legal Officer, lawyer Anna Minelle Maningding, emphasized that scammers exploit the element of surprise and panic to manipulate victims into falling for their schemes.
“Do not click on links in messages from supposed banking institutions, because banks never send links nor ask for your personal details through messages,” Maningding said during the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Ilocos Sur’s Ammuentayo (let us know) radio program on December 23.
She added that scammers typically gain access to victims’ personal information, including contact numbers, bank accounts, and social media profiles, through malicious links.
Maningding adds that scammers continue to exploit digital platforms with various schemes designed to trick individuals into revealing personal information or sending money. Here are some of the most common scams to watch out for:
- Delivery Scam: Victims receive fake delivery notifications despite not expecting any packages. These messages often include malicious links for “tracking” orders.
- Impersonation Scam: Scammers pose as someone familiar—like a friend, bank representative, or government official—and demand payments for supposed penalties, donations, or violations.
- Love Scam: Fraudsters build emotional connections with victims online, gain their trust, and then ask for money or financial favors they never intend to repay.
- Prize and Lottery Scam: Victims receive messages claiming they won a prize or lottery, despite not participating in any contests.
- Security Update Scam: Victims are told their accounts will be deactivated unless they update information via a provided link.
Maningding also highlighted key indicators of scam messages, emphasizing that certain patterns can help the public identify fraudulent attempts.
“When a message contains grammatical errors, their sentences are poorly constructed, those are also red flags, as well as if they are pretending to be a legitimate company or a government agency then proceed to ask for personal information or provide you a link,” Maningding explained.
Maningding urged the public to take immediate action by reporting scams to the nearest Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) or by filing a complaint online through the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) via their official website at cicc.gov.ph.
Maningding emphasized the importance of verifying information only through official pages of government agencies and reputable organizations.
By staying cautious, blocking suspicious messages, and reporting scam attempts, the public can collectively prevent financial losses and identity theft caused by fraudulent schemes. (CCMT/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
