Filipinos Warned To Ignore Hoax Texts

If you receive a text message saying that you have been chosen as the "lucky winner" of an electronic draw of a raffle sponsored by a Philippine-based charity foundation, ignore and delete it – it's a hoax.

The Philippine mission warned the Filipino community in Dubai about the text messages, particularly those who subscribe to the international roaming service of a Philippine-based mobile phone service provider.

The text message informs the victim that he or she has won $40,000 (Dh146,919) in an electronic raffle conducted for Overseas Filipino Workers by the Special Division Office of the President GMA Charity Foundation Philippines, named after the initials of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The message also instructs the recipient to call a certain person for instructions on how he or she can claim the prize.

Once a prospective victim returns the call, he or she is instructed to remit a "transfer fee" of $400 (Dh1,469) via Western Union and also asked for personal bank details for "documentation".