OTP: common way of scammers
Date: June 11, 2022
Have you received a text message that contains or talks about OTP? Do you know what is OTP? How important this OTP is?
Hello Philippines and Hello World. I hope that you are happy and blessed. Here I am again, saying I'm present and will write another article for you.
Now, I decided to talk about OTP because I had a recent experience about this. I will share this to you hoping to help you to be aware about it or atleast just to give you an idea what to do when it happen to you. Might be read.cash family already knew or encountered about it but just let me share for the benefit of those who do not know about it yet.
What is OTP
OTP meansĀ One Time Password. It is a temporary, secure PIN-code or password sent to you through text message or e-mail that is valid only for a short period of time.
Nowadays, I noticed that there were lots of reminders about OTP. SMART, DITO and even NTC itself reminds us about our OTP. I really wonder why time to time I received a message about it until I experienced something.
Experience
One time, a friend and a co-worker of my husband called me asking a favor. I ask her what is it and she ask me if I have a gcash. I told her, yes I do have. She then ask me if they can use my gcash account. I ask her first where she will be using it. Then she explain..
My mother join Tutok to win, a program hosted by Willie Revillame, by just commenting in her live program. Then someone messaged her that she was selected to be given 10,000.00 ($200). They asked a gcash number so they could send the amount for my mother. Since we don't have gcash, we told him if they could send the money through our bank account. But the man said that they only use gcash for transferring the said amount. The man told us to find someone we know who have gcash account then I remember you.
After hearing her story, I asked her if it is really legit. She said that it is from Tutok to win. They want to try it hoping that it is true. $200 is a big help for them if ever it is for real.
I told her to try and I gave my gcash number and we will see.
After a second, I received a text message from gcash reminding me not to share my OTPmy OTP to anyone.
While we are talking over the phone, an unknown number is calling me. So, I told her to drop it for a while and I will answer it first.
Ma'am do you receive a text message from gcash?
Yes sir.
Can I ask the number that was sent to you?
Why sir?
I need it ma'am so we could send the money.
Oh! why you need to ask my OTP?
It is mine mam, just give it to me so I could process the sending of money.
May I ask what organization do you belong?
I am from Manny Pacquiao's team. (Here, I think he was distracted by my questions because he has a different answer from what he said to my husband's workmate which he came from Tutok to win)
Ah okay. Sir, how many times I send money through gcash but it doesn't need OTP to do it. Di mo ako maloloko sir because I am a gcash user for a long time.
Totototttt.
He ends up the call.
I and my husband's workmate talks again and I told her it was a scam. They are trying to open my gcash account and asking me the OTP so they can access it. Thanks God I know about it.
She says sorry about it and I just say, it's okay. I am glad that she thought about me first. What if she ask help from others and don't know how important OTP is and will share it with that scammer. Naku, mauubos pera nila sa gcash. Okay lang if walang laman.
Ending thoughts
Scammers is everywhere right now. They are trying to do everything just to get the money they want. There are lots in social media and in text messages. Please be careful and be vigilant. Make reading a habit and understand it. NEVER share your OTP to anyone.
Thank you for reading. I hope you
learn something. Till next time
see you...
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Great presence of mind there @JenThoughts!
Usually scammers are quite tricky nowadays and use a LOT of programs just to trick other people. What I learned from this post and also from other people is not to and never share the GCASH number that is connected to our wallets. If someone, like a friend or relative ask for one ask them on why they need it and if it will be used as a raffle entry, or for remittance from kung sinong herodes red flag na agad.