Here’s Why You Should Be Vigilant with Text Messages

Here’s Why You Should Be Vigilant with Text Messages

We always reiterate that you should be extra vigilant with text messages, especially those that have suspicious links. eWallets and banks have been issuing this warning, and it seems that after GCash and BDO are among those affected by these alleged scam incidents, GoTyme is the latest victim involving suspicious text messages that affected its users.

Bilyonaryo News Channel reported on the alleged GoTyme scam incident three weeks ago, and released a follow up report tonight (January 17), where more than Php 4 million was stolen from over 100 users. In Bilyonaryo News Channel’s follow-up report, one victim recounted that she lost Php 260,000 through six unauthorized transactions–five of them being cash transfers amounting to Php 50,000. Another victim narrated that he lost over Php 100,000 in three transaction in a matter of two minutes.

Victims said that they received an email where GoTyme said they could not guarantee that they could not return the money lost. Victims have filed a complaint to the BSP regarding the issue, but they have yet received any update on their case.

The BSP did issue an advisory against text hijacking last December 17, where it is described as “a modus operandi where fraudsters insert themselves into legitimate text message conversations, making their messages appear safe by blending in with other messages from a trusted source.”

As of writing, GoTyme is repeatedly urging its customers to be extra vigilant with any suspicious messages that contain a URL. Aside from that, GoTyme recently made updates to their app, where transactions will be unavailable for 24 hours after linking the app to a new device.

Prior to this alleged scam incident involving GoTyme, GCash has been involved in serveral incidents where some of its users lost several thousand Pesos. The latest was last November 9, where multiple users reported unauthorized transactions involving amounts of Php 2,000. Despite that, GCash assured the public that its eWallet remains to be safe.

In another incident, several BDO accountholders lost over Php 50,000 in unauthorized bank transfers due to a hacking incident back in 2021.

 

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