Smart warns against false text messages

Smart Communications Inc. warned the public yesterday against text messages offering free text message reloads purportedly as rewards in exchange for forwarding these messages to other Smart GSM subscribers.

"We strongly advise the public to disregard such misleading text messages and to refrain from forwarding them to other cellphone users," said Ramon Isberto, Smart public affairs head.

Several versions of these misleading text messages have been circulated by still-unknown parties in recent months. The latest version reads as follows: "Smart 20th anniversary offer: Send this to 10 Smart users and get free P500 load. Check bal inquiry tomorrow at 1515."

"This message is patently false. We cannot celebrate our 20th anniversary for the simple reason that we started our commercial operations only in 1994," Isberto emphasized.

"New promos and other rewards programs will be properly announced through radio, TV and newspaper advertisements," he added.

Since April, hoax text messages have been sent to many Smart cellphone subscribers. One text message informs the subscriber that he/she has won P20,000 cash from Smart. To claim the prize, the misleading message says, the subscriber needs to give Smart the PIN of his/her new Call and Text card worth P2,000.

Another hoax message notifies the subscriber that he/she has won a prize from Pagcor. It asks the subscriber to call the cellphone number or a certain Atty. Jhon Jimenez to claim the prize.