I got this sms message from +639064579932

Send your own SMS with SMSCaster ! >hon d2 ka mag reply load mo ako 300pesos

One look and I know it’s a SMS TEXT scam. I asked Raven and some friends and they did receive such text messages before. Searching the internet, it seems this scam is rampant in the Philippines. The perpetrator is using different cellular phone numbers and requesting for different amounts of cellphone load ranging from 30 pesos to 300 pesos.

It uses a good social engineering technique: “Hon” is the shortened form of “Honey” a popular term of endearment among couples in the Philippines. One possible setup scenario is that the scammer pretends to be the sweetheart who may have lost his/her cellular phone and he/she is using a different number and then asks for phone prepaid load. Mobile phone prepaid loading business is very popular in the Philippines. Even the smallest neighborhood “sari-sari” store have this prepaid mobile phone loading system.

Digging further on the SMSCaster keyword, I found some information about their business. The site describes their software as:

a Bulk SMS text messaging software for businesses to send marketing & advertising SMS messages to customers with mobile phone from PC (personal computers)

I don’t know if they are legitimate company or not, but they are being used by scammers that’s for sure.

To the scammer: I will make your scheme known to the whole menardconnected world. I’ll make you (in)famous! 🙂
I might even collect the numbers you use and post it here and do more awareness posts on your shameless deeds.

To the readers of this blog: I know you are smart enough to know that this is a scam, but my advise is that you share this knowledge to others (especially to your not-so-techie-friendly folks, friends, relatives and so on). If you receive similar text scam, feel free to leave a message here. If you have blog post discussing the experience, we can even do link exchange if you like.

Lets expose all scammers ok?

Update 02.25.2009

Scammer’s Number:

+639064579932

+639278531221

+639155272771

Update: 2009.08.19
Another SMS Scam worth knowing:
SMS Scam: Marie Velasco