Telecommunications giant Globe has urged the public to remain cautious of new modus operandi or scam that victimizes its prepaid and postpaid users. The act is made possible my making use of an online payment platform, known to be Zong, which allowsits subscribers to purchase digital goods from gaming sites and social networks through mobile phones or texting.
The scam involves a bogus person making a call to a Globe postpaid subscriber, pretending as a Globe customer service representative, and saying that Globe will give away rewards with the prospect victim, in most cases, biting the bait.
To get the reward, the subscriber will be requested to provide a set of pin codes from a bot-like sender 2800, wherein upon pin code retrieval, the fraudster will utilize the codes to purchase items online and charge all the costs to the innocent subscriber's account.
Talks are now ongoing between Globe Telecom and the online payment platform to address the issue.
Another type of scam involves prepaid subscribers being unknowingly led to share a load.
The Globe prepaid subscriber will be deceived into typing the amount of load which, in the mindset of the subscriber, is the keyword or number that needs to be sent in order to apply or activate or pursue what the subscriber thinks will have. Then, the subscriber will be asked to send it to a reference number, beginning with 2 plus other random numbers, which is actually the number of the scammer when being used in making share-a-load transactions. When this successfully happens, the subscriber is tricked and realizes his/her load has been deducted.
I personally think that these scams are very applicable to all networks. The fraudulent person may be innovative and just adjust the deceitful tactics according to the network of the potential victim. So, to all network subscribers, be aware of what transactions you are going into and follow your instinct.This is the time when we have to use our common sense when making choices, but sometimes with the enticement the scam brings, we bite.
When you think that the offer is too good to be true, then most likely it is not true.
In case, something fishy rises, subscribers may contact Globe through:
- Talk2Globe hotline at 211: toll-free from any Globe Mobile phone or through landline number
(02)730-1000 (toll-free from any Globe landline nationwide); - CHAT on the Globe website: www.globe.com.ph/help
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/globeph
- Twitter: send a private message directed to @Talk2GLOBE
- SMS: text HELP send to 1234.
