Pinoys warned against new variant of Nigerian scam

Pinoys warned against new variant of Nigerian scam
05/12/2009 | 02:09 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Jobseekers, beware of another scam promising non-existent jobs in Nigeria.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the new variant of the “419 scam” uses the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria’s address to look more authentic.

“The syndicate requires the recipient to remit money to a particular bank account in Nigeria, supposedly as payment for application fees, taxes, and other processing fees,” a DFA advisory on Tuesday said.

The modus operandi involves sending e-mails to unsuspecting victims promising employment in Nigeria, bank loans, lottery winnings or double-your-money schemes using Filipino names to victimize aspiring migrants.

“In the latest incident involving Filipino nationals, an e-mail from a certain ‘Dr Ruben S. Cruz’, supposedly working at the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria, circulated asking recipients to remit US$200 to the Federal Inland Revenue Services of Nigeria in order to receive a tax certificate,” the DFA added.

The Philippines has not yet lifted the deployment ban to Nigeria.

“The public is advised not to send any money or divulge personal information, particularly bank accounts or credit card numbers, if they received similar e-mails.

The public may refer such e-mail messages to the Cybercrimes Division of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” the DFA said. – Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/160899/Pinoys-warned-against-new-variant-of-Nigerian-scam

2 rescued Pinoy seafarers in Nigeria injured – DFA

2 rescued Pinoy seafarers in Nigeria injured – DFA
05/19/2009 | 04:10 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the Filipino seafarers rescued last weekend from a hijacked oil tanker in Nigeria were hurt, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. said the injured were among the nine Filipino seamen — not just six as earlier reported — who were rescued from Niger militants who hijacked the MV Spirit on May 13.

The MV Spirit had a seven other crew members of different nationalities, the DFa said.

“Two of the nine rescued Filipino seafarers had slight injuries,” Conejos said.

DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo had earlier dispatched Conejos to personally look into the condition and welfare of the Filipino seafarers on board the chartered oil tanker.

Quoting Nigerian army spokesperson Colonel Rabe Abubakar, the DFA reported that the latest operations brought the number of freed hostages to 13, including the nine Filipinos and four Nigerians.

“A consular team was sent to the city of Warri in Delta State where the hijacking took place, and the nine rescued Filipino sailors are expected to be turned over to the embassy’s custody shortly,” Conejos added.

Conejos and. Alex Lamadrid, Charge d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja, had met and continue to communicate with the Nigerian foreign ministry and federal security officials for the safe and early release of the remaining Filipino seafarers in the custody of Nigerian militants, the DFA said.

After years of militant activity and lack of maintenance on crucial oil infrastructure, Nigeria produces about 1.6 million barrels of crude per day, or about one quarter less than its stated capacity

The Philippine government has stopped sending Filipino workers to Nigeria following hostilities and kidnappings of foreign nationals. Several groups have requested that Manila lift the deployment ban as the situation there continues to improve. – Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV

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http://www.gmanews.tv/story/161919/2-rescued-Pinoy-seafarers-in-Nigeria-injured—DFA#