Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

63 Country Code Scam Calls and Texts
63 Country Code Scam Calls and Texts

Calls or text messages starting with the country code +63 originate from the Philippines. If you are not in the Philippines and do not expect a call from there, any communication from this code is highly likely to be a scam. The +63 country code scam involves fraudulent text messages, or WhatsApp calls from Philippine numbers, typically pretending to be delivery services (e.g., USPS, Evri) or government agencies (e.g., tolls, parking fines). They aim to steal personal info or money via phishing links. Do not click links, delete immediately, and block the sender.

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).
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