Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sam Mendoza: A Scam, Spam and Mobile Harassment

I'm sure a lot of you hate receiving spams on your mobile phones. Usually I just delete and ignore it but when it becomes a series of repeated pattern sometimes you get to loose your patience and get tempted to reply.... Please don't. Let me tell you a true story about Sam Mendoza.

My goal here is here is to spread awareness and enlighten people about the many forms of scam and harassment

January 20, 2015/ I have repeatedly received SMS from 0923-244-0687 claiming to be Sam Mendoza, 22 years old from Negros Occidental asking for financial help so she could go to Manila for work with a website link to her profile. I have been receiving other similar messages from her the whole day.




Finally I wanted to sleep and decided to ask her to stop and it was the biggest mistake I did because she started sending me non-stop Flash SMS from him/her with no other buttons but 'Dismiss' but as soon as I click on it, I get another one in a non-stop continuing cycle even when I have turned off my phone (message changes for each FlashSMS).




Flash SMS are also called "Class 0 Message". For some countries, it's actually illegal. You don't receive it via normal SMS so you won't see the mobile number of who is the sender.

I have disabled 'Notifications' on my iPhone 4S settings was able to block her mobile number.
Here's how:
1. Open the exact SMS-
2. Click on Contact on the upper right-
3. Click on the "i" inside a circle symbol-
4. Click on Block this Caller on the below option.

By blocking her phone number, I am no longer receiving normal SMS from her but I am still receiving Flash SMS from her since I can't block it. I've reached out to NTC (Consumer Welfare & Protection Division) which agreed to help block this scammer.
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 1:27 PM
Subject: [SPAM] FW: Reporting SMS Scam: Text SMS and Flash SMS

National Telecommunications Commission
Consumer Welfare & Protection Division

Google research shows that he/she has been scamming a lot of people for a few years now, since 2008. Type "Scam Sam Mendoza" and you will see multiple references.

Blog References show as early as year 2008:
Everyday Rhythm: SMS Scam by Sam O Mendoza
SMS SCAM ALERT: Sam Mendoza, the new Marie Velasco
SAM MENDOZA SCAM!!! ~ Curiouser Curiouser
Chronicles of Sam O. Mendoza, Ramblings of an insomiac
SMS SCAM ALERT – SAM O. MENDOZA B.P. CAVITE
Sam Mendoza Text Scam – Animetric’s World – My daily…
SMS or Text Scam by Sam Mendoza, Noelizm
SCAM: Sam Mendoza, Visayas.tk, Louie Miranda
SMS Scam: Sam O Mendoza, Angel Crying for help – Altis….
Me, Myself and I: Scam Sam
Sam Mendoza, Kampeon Ng Pag-ibig
Listening Post: Alert! Anna Marie Velasco Text Scam
Wikipedia Talk: Articles for Creation/Sam Mendoza SMS….
SMS Scam Alert: Sam Mendoza seeks help thru SMS
A Scam letter for YOU by Sam Mendoza - Bubblews
SMS Spammers – FemaleNetwork.com

No comments:

Post a Comment