Text scammers target Arroyo

Manila: President Gloria Arroyo, cabinet members, and overseas Filipino workers have been receiving text messages saying they won millions in raffle prizes, including vehicles and houses, a senior official said.

"The president has received text messages saying that she has won a million pesos from some charity groups. She was asked to deposit some money in a bank account so she could retrieve what she allegedly won as raffle prizes," said Trade Secretary Peter Favila.

Arroyo sends forward these text messages to Cabinet members "so they would know that these types of fraudulent schemes continue to happen," said Favila.

Favila asked Congress to amend a law to allow the imprisonment of fraudsters, adding that an existing 5,000-10,000 pesos (Dh454-Dh908) fine has failed to deter fraudsters.