Call center agent looking for side gig loses P44K cash to 'smishing'

A 21-year-old call center agent was hoping to earn more money as a bread winner of the family but instead lost more cash after she fell victim to smishing or SMS phishing.

According to a "Stand for Truth" report, Erika Sagales received a text scam offering her a job. After clicking the link from the text, she was redirected to a Whatsapp where she was tasked to do business transactions by an agent.

At first, she thought there were no red flags after learning she would earn more money. She was then asked to pay P44,000 for an investment in the business transaction but after giving the money, the agent blocked her number.

What's worse, Sagales borrowed the money from her aunt.

"Naghahanap ako ng part time job kasi ‘yung kinikita ko, breadwinner kasi ako kulang so iniisip ko na makakatulong siya sakin kasi nagkaroon ako ng proof na naka-cash out ako, naka-cash out kami ng tita ko so iniisip ko na totoo siya," she said.

(I was looking for a part time job because I am not earning enough so I thought this would help me because I received proof that there is a cash out.

Sagales became a victim of a type of security attack through a text which sends a bogus link that is being used to steal a person's data such as login credentials, credit card data and social security information.

"Ang hirap ng ginagawa nila, ang ini-scam nilang tao ay mahihirap din, so walang wala, kami mismo yung naghahanap kami ng pera pero kami yung ninanakawan nila ng pera," she said.

Authorities including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Division, are conducting investigations into these text scams.

Police Lieutenant Michelle Sabino, spokeswoman of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, the scam is a privacy disaster which should immediately be stopped.

For National Privacy Commission Chairman Raymund Liboro, the public is advised to stop clicking suspicious links from texts, especially from unknown numbers.

"Don’t click, don’t tap kung wala po sa inyong contact list huwag niyo na ho’yang tangkilikin pa. Ito ang reminder sa lahat huwag ho tayong basta basta nagbibigay ng inyo pong mga detalye," Liboro said.

(If it's not in your contact list, don't open it. This is our reminder to them and don't easily give your personal details.)

"Lalo na po itong mga contact numbers ninyo, lalo na ang financial information kagaya ng credit card pagkat ‘yan ay maaari pong magamit sa hindi mabuti," he added.

(Don't give credit card, contact numbers and financial information, because it may be used for bad things.)

Sagales also called on scammers to stop targeting the public, especially someone like her who is in need of cash.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News