Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III warned the public against holiday-themed scams, urging Filipinos to remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes proliferating during this gift-giving and online shopping season.
He emphasized the importance of heeding the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) advisory.
“Mag-ingat po tayo ngayong kapaskuhan (Let's be vigilant this Christmas season),” Pimentel said, reminding the public to be cautious.
“Maraming scammer ang naghahanap ng pagkakataon para manloko (There are a lot of scammers looking for a chance to trick people).”
“Use your KoKote always,” he added.
The Senator highlighted the National Telecommunication Commission's (NTC) advice to avoid clicking links embedded in suspicious text messages.
He stressed the ease with which these scams can compromise personal information and financial security.
“Huwag po tayong magpapadala sa mga mensaheng hindi natin kilala ang pinagmulan (Let's not be swayed by messages whose origins we do not know),” Pimentel cautioned.
“Bago kayo mag-click, siguraduhin ninyong lehitimo ang pinagmulan ng mensahe,” he added.
Pimentel reiterated the NTC's call for citizens to report suspicious text messages and online scams through their website or by contacting the NTC Hotline at 1682.
He urged everyone to protect themselves and their families from these fraudulent activities proactively.
“Ang pag-iingat ay susi para maiwasan ang mga scam (Caution is key to avoiding scams),” he concluded.