Public warned vs. e-wallet phishing scams

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Wednesday warned the public about phishing scams posing as e-wallet entities.

CICC Director Alexander Ramos said the agency monitored a new modus operandi wherein users receive text messages purportedly sent by e-wallets reminding them to update their accounts through a link, otherwise it would be closed. 

However, Ramos said clicking the bogus links provides scammers access to the users’ accounts, allowing them to hijack and takeover the e-wallets. 

“With all the raids sa POGO scam centers, magbabago ng technique ang natitirang operators…Na-detect namin nag-uumpisa sila mag-proliferate ng messages in the disguise of SMS message coming from GCash and Maya,” Ramos said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay. 

(With all the raids on POGO scam centers, the remaining POGO operators will use a new technique. We detected this new scam wherein phishing scams are disguising as SMS messages from GCash and Maya.)

The scam messages started proliferating during the long weekend for the observance of this year’s Undas in certain areas including Quezon City and Makati.

The CICC believes the phishing messages were being sent through a International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher, a device that tracks and intercepts mobile phone communications. It also generate false mobile numbers.

“Ito ay isang particular device na illegal na pinasok sa Pilipinas. Para itong text blaster on the move. Nagp-project sya ng messages at tine-take over ang signal,” he said. 

(It is a device that was smuggled to the Philippines. It acts as a text blaster on the move.)

Ramos further said the scammers may be on the move as they detected the signal in various locations in Metro Manila. The CICC is now tracking the locations where the IMSI catcher was detected using predictive tools to address the phishing scam. 

“Sa ating mga kababayan for this Christmas Season, wag kayo madadala sa alarming messages coming from Gcash or Paymaya. They are coordinating with the DICT and with the NTC,” Ramos said. 

(We are reminding the public to not be deceived by the alarming messages coming from Gcash or Paymaya. They are coordinating with the DICT and with the NTC.)

—VAL, GMA Integrated News