The Philippine National Police (PNP) has alerted the public about a new scam involving text messages that falsely claim recipients are facing lawsuits and imminent arrest. This scam, known as the “warrant of arrest” scam, is spreading quickly and causing fear among those who receive these messages.
According to a report on 24 Oras by Emil Sumangil, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group has flagged these messages as fraudulent. The texts often state that the recipient has an outstanding legal case and will be arrested soon. Some messages even include names of police officers, PNP offices, and legal terms like “warrant” and “subpoena” to seem legitimate.
PCapt. Michelle Sabino of the Eastern District Police Anti-Cybercrime Team explained that the recipients of these texts often panic and contact the number provided in the message. The scammers then ask for money, claiming it is necessary to avoid the arrest or to pay bail. This tactic is used to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
Sabino also noted that these scam messages typically contain poor grammar and outdated information, such as the use of old police ranks like “Police Senior Superintendent” (PS/SUPT), which the PNP no longer uses. These errors should alert recipients that the messages are fake.
The PNP believes that the scam syndicates may have insiders within the court system, as many recipients actually have ongoing court cases. To prevent becoming a victim, the PNP advises the public to ignore such messages. If there are genuine concerns, individuals should visit the court directly to verify any claims.
Additionally, Sabino emphasized that legitimate court orders, including warrants of arrest, are never sent via text message. Official court communications are always delivered by liaison officers in person.
The PNP urges everyone to remain vigilant and informed about such scams to protect themselves and avoid falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.
With the increasing reports of scams, you should never hesitate to contact the PNP-ACG Hotline at 0966 627 1257. The PNP-ACG will request a copy of the conversation and/or the transaction receipt from the victim. Your reports will be forwarded to the court as a request for information sharing. According to PCapt. Michelle Sabino, once victims report the incident, it is possible to identify the scammers or fraudsters.
As the holiday season approaches, I’ve noticed an increase in text messages from unknown numbers. Have you experienced this too?
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