As the holiday season approaches, mobile users are advised to be wary of a new scam targeting their generosity. Smart Communications has reported a surge in fake donation scams circulating through online messaging platforms and over-the-top (OTT) apps.
These scams often involve individuals posing as company executives or representatives of charitable organizations, soliciting donations for fake relief efforts. Scammers often use messaging platforms to contact potential victims, usually by sending QR codes for supposed “donations.”
For its part, Smart has been actively blocking phone numbers associated with these scams from its network. Additionally, they are working with digital payment platforms and relevant government agencies to investigate these incidents and work on prosecuting those behind the scheme.
You can protect yourself from falling victim to these scams by verifying the sender’s authenticity before responding to any requests, especially those involving donations. You can confirm the sender’s identity by calling them using a known phone number or initiating a video call.
Additionally, verify the legitimacy of the donation drive by checking the official online pages of the purported organization.
If you receive any suspicious messages, report them to Smart’s HULISCAM portal (https://smart.com.ph/huliscam). You can also report suspected cyber threats and fraudulent activities through Smart’s verified social media pages on Facebook and X or by calling the hotline *888.
