SSS warns public vs. fake text alerts

Recipients of such text alerts could “easily identify” scam messages by checking the sender details, she said. (Pexels Photo)

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday warned the public against text providing claims updates.

Normita Doctor, SSS Senior Vice President for Member Services and Support Group, said the agency has been receiving reports from members who get text alerts, instructing them to click a link to avoid expiration of contribution payments or to register to My.SSS.

“Do not click the link in the message of these fake text alerts. It will lead to a phishing site that will steal personal information such as SS numbers and login credentials from My.SSS account,” Doctor said in an advisory.

Recipients of such text alerts could “easily identify” scam messages by checking the sender details, she said.

“The SMS sender should be ‘SSS’ and the official SSS website is www.sss.gov.ph. If it is an unidentified mobile number, it is a text message from scammers purposely sent to deceive its receiver,” she said.

To keep My.SSS accounts from being compromised and used in fraudulent activities, Doctor told the recipients of fake text alerts not to share their SSS number, usernames, passwords and other login details of accounts.

The SSS Special Investigation Department has investigated the reported incidents and has submitted a “text scam complaint” containing the fake text alerts to the National Telecommunications Commission.

Victims of text scammers are advised to report directly to the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division.

Doctor said victims could help law enforcement agencies in filing a case against text scammers with the assistance of the SSS SID by sending an email at fid@sss.gov.ph or by calling at (02) 89247370.