Smart warns of latest text scams

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications is cautioning subscribers about two of the latest modus operandi used by scammers to trick people into parting with their prepaid load credits.

In the first scam, subscribers receive an official-sounding text message from an 11-digit number, saying that a certain amount of load has been transferred to their account.

The scammer will then send the subscriber another text message claiming that they have mistakenly sent them load, and asking them to return it.

The scammer will then give you instructions on how to “return” the load credits via PasaLoad.

Another scam targets retailers or people who sell Smart load and other Smart products, by trying to get the retailer to use the retailer PasaLoad code 343 to transfer load to them.

Smart requested its subscribers and retailers to report scammers’ numbers and scam messages by calling the *888 hotline using their mobile phone. Via landline, they may call Smart at 888-1111. They may also report scam attempts to the Smart Communications Facebook page, and to @SMARTCares on Twitter.