63 Country Code Scam Calls and Texts

Common +63 Scam

Scammers use this prefix to send fraudulent messages to people in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia. Common themes include:

• Unpaid Toll Fees: Messages claiming you have outstanding toll road debts (e.g., E-ZPass, FasTrak, or TxTag) and threatening license suspension.
• Package Delivery Issues: Fake alerts from USPS, Royal Mail, Canada Post, or Australia Post claiming a package is held due to an incorrect address or unpaid fee.
• Government/Tax Alerts: Notifications about "winter fuel allowances" or "unpaid traffic tickets" from agencies like the DMV or UK government.
• WhatsApp/Phishing: Unsolicited messages asking "How are you?" to start a conversation for romance or crypto investment scams.

Red Flags

• +63 Prefix: Official local agencies (like the USPS or your local DMV) will never contact you from a Philippine international number.
• Urgent Threats: Scammers create a false sense of urgency, claiming you will lose your license or face heavy fines if you don't act immediately.
• Suspicious Links: Links often use unusual domains like .top, .cc, or .icu instead of official .gov or .com websites.
• Generic Greetings: The message might mention a balance or issue but won't know your name.

What To Do

1. Do Not Click Links: Never click on any link in a suspicious text.
2. Block and Delete: Report the number as "junk" or "spam" on your phone and block the contact.
3. Verify Independently: If you think a message might be real, go directly to the official agency's website (e.g., USPS.com) or call them using a trusted number from their official site.
4. Report the Scam: Report international scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).