Scam message posing as NDRRMC circulates online; public urged to avoid suspicious links

By TechWatch Staff

A screenshot of a text exchange circulating online has raised red flags among cybersecurity advocates after revealing a suspicious message thread now believed to be part of a spoofing scam posing as a government transaction.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is warning the public about deceptive text messages that falsely claim recipients are eligible for financial aid or other government assistance.

These scams often misuse the name or official SMS number of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and contain suspicious links.

The message exchange, which appeared professional in tone, referenced supposed documentation and deadlines related to a project submission, mentioning terms like “market sounding,” “social media monitoring,” and other business jargon.

It also cited deadlines and names to project a sense of urgency and legitimacy.

However, Scam Watch Pilipinas has warned that the message is not part of any official government correspondence and may be part of a spoofing scheme designed to extract sensitive information, solicit unauthorized fees, or get recipients to click malicious links disguised as registration or contract-related documents.

“This is a classic example of spoofing, where a scammer pretends to be someone you know or a representative of a legitimate organization to pressure you into responding or clicking a link,” Scam Watch Pilipinas said in a statement. “Even when no link is visible, scammers often follow up with a phishing document or Google Form under the guise of a contract or registration process.”

The exchange ends with a strongly worded message from the intended victim expressing deep offense over the lack of response—suggesting that the scammer had stopped replying after the initial messages, a common tactic once the victim has engaged and the scammer has moved on.

Scam Watch Pilipinas emphasized that legitimate government agencies such as the NDRRMC does not use personal messaging platforms to request documents or payments.

It urged the public to remain vigilant against online scams that impersonate government agencies and exploit public trust.

Government agencies do not conduct “market sounding” through casual chat messages. Individuals are advised never to send personal information or payments based solely on unsolicited messages and to always verify through official channels.

Even professional-sounding messages that pressure recipients to act quickly or submit documents without verification should be treated with suspicion. Clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or unverified contacts should also be avoided.

Scam Watch Pilipinas encourages the public to report similar messages by calling the National Anti-Scam Hotline at 1326 and logging suspicious encounters through the Scam Vault PH platform.

“This incident reminds us that scams don’t always come in broken English or obvious formats. Sometimes, they are polished, polite, and persistent,” the Scam Watch Pilipinas said.

For added protection, the public is advised to ignore unverified messages, report scams immediately, use the Whoscall app to screen suspicious numbers, and submit scam reports at www.scamwatchpilipinas.com.

(The Scam Watch Pilipinas and TechWatch PH are both powered by Truth360 Inc.)