Authorities on Monday warned the public against the misinformation about the government’s Non-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) circulating on social media.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) alerted the public against the cyber attack, which claims that victims violated the NCAP and directs them to settle the alleged violation through a website link.
“The public should disregard the said text message, as NCAP enforcement has been suspended since 2022 per the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the DICT stated in its advisory.
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAP in August 2022 based on a consolidated case arising from separate petitions filed by four transport groups who said its implementation had been sloppy along with system glitches.
The MMDA also cautioned the public after netizens informed the agency about the text messages circulating in the National Capital Region about the so-called No-Touch Arrest Penalty.
“There is no such policy implemented or notice sent by MMDA saying that you have to pay it through a website link,” the MMDA stated.
The link in the text message will direct the victim to a fake website that uses the name of the Land Transportation Office and claims that by entering the registration plate number, he or she will know the traffic violation committed and the amount of the penalty.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the MMDA in coordination with the LTO continues to work with law enforcement agencies to find out and catch those behind these scams on motorists.
“Do not click on a link with a suspicious text message to avoid giving out personal and sensitive information,” he said.
“If you receive a suspicious message or post on social media, you can call the MMDA Hotline 136 or send a message to the MMDA official accounts,” he added.
The DICT, meanwhile, urged the people to undertake the following measures:
1. Ignore suspicious and malicious text messages.
2. Check the sender of the text message and verify the information received by referring to the official social media accounts and websites of the government.
3. Do not click the website links from suspicious text messages as this will prevent you from sending sensitive information.
4. Enable multi-factor authentication to provide an additional layer of security for your accounts.
To report cyber attacks and other online scams, the public is encouraged to call 1326, the Inter-Agency Response Center hotline being handled by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, an attached agency of the DICT.