Volatile Yard 挥洒自如 Write anything I want to write...

The Scam

I received an SMS from an unknown number +62815xxxxxxx this morning. The first moment I saw the number I was 'confident' that it was a scam. I copied the message below verbatim, retaining the typos, redundant punctuation marks, etc. found in the original SMS but masking off the liars' telephone number:

TAHNIAH. Simcard Anda Meme-nangi hadiah Cek Tunai RM. 15000 Plus Reload Kredit RM. 250 dari Peraduan DIGI.Sila hubungi: 0062813xxxxxxxx Terimakasih

It's an interesting morning joke. (^_^) First, the English translation of this Malay message. I try to imitate the errors from the original version in an English way:

CONGRATULATION. Your Simcard Wo-n a prize in Cheque Worth RM. 15000 'Plus' Reload Credit of RM. 250 from a DIGI Contest.Please contact: 0062813xxxxxxxx Thankyou

There are so many loopholes here. For some of them:

• I have to call some Indonesia GSM phone numbers to claim the prize from a contest held in Malaysia?
• Meme-nangi (Wo-n)? Plus (already in English)? Terimakasih (Thankyou)?
• I am using a postpaid plan, yet I just 'won' some reload credit for a prepaid plan.
• (No more... don't want to educate those liars.)

So keep an eye on such scams. If some company wants to award you, logically the message should be from the company. Don't be greedy, be calm, and analyze the whole thing.

[Update] The Anti-Scam

On 5-Apr-07, i.e., about three weeks after receiving the scam SMS above, I received a broadcast message from DiGi (well, the genuine one this time):

SMS PERADUAN AKADEMI FANTASIA & LAIN-LAIN SEDANG DISEBARKAN & KONONNYA ANDA MENANG HADIAH WANG TUNAI.ABAIKAN SMS INI KERANA IANYA SATU PENIPUAN.PDRM/DiGi

A rough English translation of the message:

Some SMS messages are being spread, claiming that you have won some cash prize related to the Akademi Fantasia (which is a local reality talent search show) or other contests. Ignore these SMS messages because they are scams. Royal Malaysian Police / DiGi

Not bad. Although this anti-scam message was sent a bit late, hopefully it has helped some to recognize this type of scams.