March 30, 2017 (Koror, Palau) On Wednesday morning, almost anyone with a PNCC sim card woke up to announcements from Verizon and T-Mobile announcing that they’ve won a million dollars. Although, spam mails and “phishing” is common occurrence outside of Palau, it is not common in Palau.
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President Remengesau during that morning press conference announced to the public that this was a scam to trick people to reveal important personal information to unknown senders of these texts who will use people’s personal information to steal from them. [restrict]Palau National Communications Corporation shortly sent out a mass text to all its customers warning them not to reply to or open the links provided by scammers or give out any personal information to unknown texts.
In its press release, PNCC warns its cell phone and internet customers to be very careful of such texts or email messages.
“DO NOT REPLY to any such “phishing” emails and text messages. PNCC and legitimate organizations like Verizon, T-Mobile or your financial institution will never request your personal information via e-mail, text messages to cellphones or pop-ups on websites,” it warns.
Furthermore it states, YOU SHOULD IGNORE AND DELETE all “phishing” e-mails and text messages, and add them to your blocked senders list.”
According to PNCC, “Phishing” scams are fraudulent e-mails or Internet pop-ups on web pages, and deceptive emails sent to cellphones as text messages, that ask for your personal information such as your user name, password, account information or credit card information and/or say that you have won cash prizes and ask you to contact them.’ [/restrict]