On May 28, 2012, I received from cell phone number 639069684047 a text message: “Congrats! Ur Sim # Had won 2nd prize winner worth of Php500,000.00 Thru Electronic Raffle draw last May/26/2010. Frm AQUINO FOUNDATION Handog Pangk*some text missing.*”
I did not react to or answer the text message, thinking it was a scam. But, I waited for a follow-up text message that would give me instructions on what to do. I reasoned that if it was true I had won and there indeed existed such a foundation, it would on its own remit the prize, minus whatever expenses incurred in releasing it.
Now, if there exists no such foundation, then it behooves the government to investigate and run after the syndicate members, who must now be victimizing innocent people. And they probably have contacts inside the Globe organization, for how would they know my SIM number?
—GODOFREDO O. PETEZA,
JP Rizal Street,
Barangay Camambugan,
Daet, Camarines Norte 4600