RP consulate warns OFWs on Saipan vs phone scam

SUSUPE, Saipan - The Philippine Consulate General on Saipan has warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families back home against a scam by Manila-based companies purportedly offering unlimited calls for only US$125 per year. A number of OFWs on Saipan had reported to the Consulate and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration that they are receiving calls from employees of Prime Management Solution and Prime Marketing offering unlimited calls promo, said Eleanor Mabangal, OWWA welfare officer on Saipan. Mabagal told GMANews.TV on Saturday that employees of Prime Management Solution and Prime Marketing have been telling OFWs that they got individual contact numbers from OWWA-Saipan. “Workers have been calling our office asking whether it’s true that we gave their numbers to any of these companies. It’s not true. OFW records are confidential. We will never give such information," Mabagal said. She said the two companies could be involved in a scam and workers and their families should be cautious. The Philippine Consulate General on Saipan also issued a disclaimer of the claims of Prime Management Solution about OWWA. Mabagal said employees of the two companies are asking OFWs who want to avail of their service to deposit $125 to the bank account of Prime Management Solution or Prime Marketing for their unlimited calls to be activated. Saipan, the capital of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is home to about 10,000 documented workers from the Philippines.- Haidee V. Eugenio, GMANews.TV