The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) says that it has unearthed an SMS scam and is advising all customers be on the alert.
GT&T Public Relations Officer Allison Parker told Stabroek News yesterday that the scam was unearthed about a month ago, when persons started calling GT&T’s office inquiring about a promotion. Some persons even turned up to collect prizes which they were told they had won. GT&T customers in Georgetown and Essequibo, Parker said, have fallen victim.
As a result, in an advertisement published yesterday, GT&T advised subscribers that the only number used by GT&T to send SMS messages to its customers is 640-9997. “If you receive messages from any other number, purporting to be from GT&T, please ignore these messages,” it said, while noting that the company does not have any top up promotion.
The scam promotion requires customers to top up another person’s mobile phone to qualify to claim a prize. “Don’t be scammed. Call 0488 for verification of any and all current promotions,” the company advised.
Although GT&T does have an ongoing Christmas promotion, it said that weekly winners will be notified by GT&T via a short message from 640-9997. The winners, it added, are not required to transfer credit to or top up any individual’s phone.
Parker told Stabroek News that when persons call, the company advises them to make a police report. She said that the unauthorised SMS messages are being sent from both blocked and unblocked numbers. Asked whether the company has spearhead any complaint to the police, she explained that it is the persons who have been scammed who have to do so and once help is requested from the company by police investigators, it will be given, particularly with regards to the unblocked numbers.
Parker said too that previously there have been a number of scams. “It’s the same scam but they are just changing the flavour,” she added.
