The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday warned the public against fraudulent text messages promising financial aid or other forms of government assistance under the name of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. 
“These fraudulent messages often misuse the name or official SMS number of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and contain suspicious links. The public is strongly advised not to click on any such links, even if the message appears to come from an official source,” the OCD said in a statement. 
“The NDRRMC SMS number is strictly used for disseminating disaster alerts and early warnings. It is not intended for the distribution of aid, cash transfers, or any personal transactions,” it added. 
The OCD further warned that scammers launch fake donation drives or impersonate typhoon victims using fabricated stories and stolen images to solicit donations or sensitive data. 
Hence, the agency called on the public to report any suspicious messages to the National Telecommunications Commission or the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. 
“Verify before clicking on links or sharing any information. Only trust official government websites and verified platforms. Report suspicious messages to your telecommunications provider or the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) via the One Stop Public Assistance Center (OSPAC) at (02) 8924-4010 or by email at [email protected],” the OCD said. 
“You may also contact the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) via their Inter-Agency Response Center (IARC) at 1326 or report online through [email protected].” 
The OCD also reminded that information on government assistance is available in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s official social media pages and website. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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