PH Red Cross warns public against text message scams

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) warned the public against a text message scam from someone claiming to be a medical staff from the “International Red Cross.”

According to the PRC, this is called a “smishing” scam.

Smishing, as defined by the Oxford Languages Dictionary, is “the fraudulent practice of sending text messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.”

“If you have received one, do not entertain it,” warned the PRC.

The Red Cross also clarified that there is no such thing as the “International Red Cross.”

“There is the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of the Red Cross of which the [PRC] is a member,” explained PRC.

“They call themselves IFRC and ICRC, not International Red Cross,” it added.

The Red Cross said that its legal team is already investigating the said scam and will take legal action against the offenders.

https://www.facebook.com/phredcross/photos/a.222265931132157/6972675932757756/

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