The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Friday said it was in the process of drafting a special circular requiring telecommunications companies to course promotional gimmicks through special access codes in the hopes of preventing rising incidences of „text scams.“

NTC chairman Ronald Solis told reporters that the commission would first formalize this requirement by signing a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, the Antimoney Laundering Council (AMLC), the Department of Finance, the Kapisanan ng Brodkasters ng Pilipinas, and the Philippine Information Agency.

„We will be coming up with a circular that will require carriers to direct all promo raffles to a four-digit premium number to help prevent text scams from proliferating,“ Solis said. „We are already drafting a circular. We will come up with a massive information campaign. There has to be an information dissemination to fight text scams.“

The scheme the NTC plans to adopt, which was originally recommended by Pagcor, would allot special four-digit numbers for promotional gimmicks, games, and raffles sent through text message to ensure the general public of their legitimacy. Scams that have victimized the public have been largely been conducted through private numbers containing ten digits, and have even made representations that they were supported by the government.

NTC officials said wireless operators would be able to generate revenues from the proposed access codes that they are set to provide for these promos without any charge at all. Usually these messages cost anywhere from P2 to P2.50 per text. „This will be of no cost to the telcos. In fact, they will be generating revenues from this,“ Solis said.

The NTC reported that 487 people were victimized last year by text scams, and that it had received 104 complaints during the first quarter. The commission blocked 387 SIM cards used in scams last year and another 102 in the first three months of the year.

Pointing to confusion among the public over the legitimacy of most promos and games sent by text message, the DTI has said it received more than 100 queries about the validity of lotteries using text. To date, the AMLC estimates that text scams have left victims P5 million poorer. Authorities think scam operators could either be acting alone or in collusion with other persons.

The typical modus operandi of a text scam is that deceiving messages are sent to victims through cellular phones claiming to be representing either the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, or Pagcor, and advising recipients about winning a huge prize in a supposed raffle draw.

The unwitting victims are then encouraged to place deposit in a bank account designated by the sendor of the text purportedly for tax payments and other fees as a precondition to getting the alleged prize. Once the money is deposited, the scam operator makes an immediate withdrawal and the victim never hears of or is able to get in touch with the swindler.Another popular scam is when unwitting scam victims are asked to send PIN codes of prepaid cellular phone cards for a chance to win P1.5 million to P2.5 million. After sending the PIN code, a text message is received claiming that he has won a raffle, but to claim the prize, the „winner“ is asked to again remit a 10 percent withholding tax to an account number.