New email scam 'victimizes' RP embassy in Oman

Philippine officials warned Filipinos abroad against a new email scam using the address of the Philippine Embassy in Oman. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the emails inform prospective victims that their email account has won a cash prize of £500,000 (P34.326 million). In an article on its website, the DFA said the syndicate requests for personal details of the recipient and then requires them to remit money to a particular bank account, supposedly as payment for application fees, taxes and other processing fees. "Apparently originating from Oman, the scam uses the email address 'PHILIPPINE EMBASSY' muscatpe@omantel.net.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it," it said. According to the DAFA article, the latest incident involved a Filipino working in Saipan who received an e-mail from a "Mr. Terry Martins." Martins claimed to be working at the Philippine Embassy in Oman as Head Customer Care Service. He informed the victim that he won a substantial cash prize. "The DFA would like to inform the public that there is no such Mr. Terry Martins working at the Philippine Embassy in Muscat and to disregard any emails received from the said individual or email address," the DFA said. It also urged the public not to send any money, or divulge personal information, particularly bank accounts or credit card numbers in case similar e-mails from the said address are received. They may refer such e-mail messages to the Cybercrimes Division, National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. — LBG, GMANews.TV