1. Someone pretending to be your relative fom abroad asking for a load.
2. A message from Globe saying my postpaid account has been charged 300.
3. Pre-approved credit cards.
4. Cash Loan
5. Car Loan
6. Pre-selling condo / house & lot
7. Winning a raffle I didn't even Join.
And now I have a new entry at #8. An angel crying for help...
A few days ago I received an sms from a girl named ALEX using a number 09229739974. The message goes...
May 31, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
"Can i ask for help? I'm Alex, 21 yo GIRL from Bacolod, Negros Occ. May Final Briefing lang po sana ako na hinahabol sa SanMiguelCorp - Ortigas this week (nag-apply po ako thru SMC-Mansilingan Plant dito din po). Sorry po sa text ko. Desperate lang po talaga akong mkapunta ng Manila & mahabol po yung deadline ko. May pic & supporting docs po ako sa www.BacolodGirl.tk na pinost ko baka sakali makatulong po yung info - Alex."
I ignored the message thinking that it was a male dating site or a porn site due to the fact that she is asking for a monetary help emphasizing that she is a GIRL. A few minutes passed I received another message from her.
May 31, 2015 @ 5:46 pm
"Pasensya na po kayo sa text message ko... Hindi ko naman po talaga kilala mga natetext ko. Nagtetext lang po ako ng sunud sunod na numbers po and really hoping na may makita man lng ako khit maliit na 2long para makaluwas ng mynila. Wala po akong idea kung babae po o lalaki tinitext ko.. I just needed help... Un lang po sana.. - Alex"
And another...
May 31, 2015 @ 6:29 pm
"Sorry if nakapagtext ako. I just need help. Alex"
After reading all three messages I was sure that it was an sms scam, a few points gave her away. She was emphasizing her gender. What is the point typing in all capital letters the word girl? She admitted into texting not just one number. Why ask a stranger for help? Why not ask a relative, friends, neighbors, teachers and all the people closer to her first before a stranger? And her website is a big giveaway because I thought if she has an online profile why not use it to ask for help instead of texting random strangers.
After more than 24 hours, June 1, 2015 at 9:51pm I received the first 2 messages I received the previous day. Due to her persistence I decided to open her website and this is what I found...
After more than 24 hours, June 1, 2015 at 9:51pm I received the first 2 messages I received the previous day. Due to her persistence I decided to open her website and this is what I found...
It is a site where you can read her dramatic and quite convincing blog crying for help. You can also see her credentials and information about her. The site is too convincing so I investigated more and realized there is nothing more in that blog. No comments. No other blogs. Not even other menus. Then I thought if this is true she would have got a lot of sympathy from a lot of netizens. many would have comment and give her the monetary help she needed.
So I did a little research and came across this blog http://everydayrhythm.blogspot.com/2013/01/sms-scam-by-sam-o-mendoza.html and a few more blogs about this scam.
Photo credit to the blogger
Can you see the difference? Take a closer look...
I found out that she's been using different names and different numbers but the modus are always the same. I read another blog that before being Sam Mendoza she was Anna Marie Velasco and now she is Alex Diaz.
So if you ever receive a text message from someone you don't know ignore it. If you are hesitant about something do your research first before believing. I'm glad I did and I followed what my instinct said.
Anyone who encountered this kind of scam please comment the name and number she used. We may never stop this but we can help spread the word and let everyone know about this sms scam.
