WhenInManila.com has been receiving messages from concerned netizens about an Instagram account with the username @notromupsu. The said account is posing as WhenInManila.com and is reportedly messaging people about claiming their cash prize. Please take note that this is a scam. Our main account is @WhenInManila on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, Kumu, and LinkedIn. We are a verified page on most of these social media platforms.
The account writes (in broken English and with a lot of typos) to Pinoy Instagram users, telling them that they are one of the 100 winners of an electronic raffle done among WhenInManila.com’s followers. The prize? $10,000 or almost Php 500,000.
Here is a sample message from them, based on a screenshot sent by one of our followers:
“We pick the 100 fortunate winnwe from out adheretnt on facebook and Instagram page. All 100 fortunate winning were haphazardly chosen from a bunch of $10,000 each as a component of our global advancement program.”
ALSO READ: Be careful! This scam could hack into your Facebook and Instagram accounts
Screenshot of scam account @notromupsu posing as WhenInManila.com
The scam account continues on to say that this cash giveaway is to help families affected by the pandemic. They write, “We are utilizing this privilege, so you can uphold your family because of pandemic covid 19.”
To proceed to claim your prize, the scam account tells you to go to “Palawan outlet” (which we can only assume they mean is money-remittance service, Palawan Express) and “activate” a winning reference number that they will provide. After it’s “activated,” that’s when they will transfer your cash prize to you.
Scam account @notromupsu asking victims to “activate” a reference number at a “Palawan outlet”
Please do not try to “activate” any number that they try to send to you. This might be them trying to get you to send them money. Please do not entertain them.
What should I do if I ever receive this message? Do not reply. Report their account. Block them.
Please do not be blinded by their promise of a $10,000 cash prize. It’s not true! And that’s most especially not the ~real~ WhenInManila.com. Want to be sure? Message us on social media @WhenInManila and we’ll get back to you.
Stay vigilant and safe out there! And, in the meantime, help us report this dangerous scam account: www.instagram.com/notromupsu
Have you gotten this message or any similar message like this in the past? Share your experience in the comments!
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