Senior citizen loses savings to caller pretending to update SSS app

An elderly man lost his life savings after someone who claimed to be an employee of the Social Security System (SSS) called him to update his mobile app for the pension for private sector workers. 

According to Ian Cruz’s report in "24 Oras," the victim’s daughter said the incident happened on August 14 after the scammer called her father to tell him that the SSS mobile app had a pending update and that he didn't need to go to the nearest branch to get a payment reference number, which the victim needed to secure at the time coincidentally. 

“She asked my dad for his email so she can send the link to this updated SSS app. And so my dad gave his email,” the viral post from the daughter read. 

“From his email, my dad got the link and downloaded the app, and this person, still on the phone, guided him thru the process of installation. They talked for four minutes during the installation process, talking about SSS and it's problems.” 

The daughter said that she could not contact her father past noon that day. So she decided to visit his home and saw that the installation of the so-called app was still ongoing until 1:20 p.m. 

The daughter got a hunch that it could be a scam. 

“I panicked and tried to turn off my Dad's phone," she said.

The daughter said the phone could not be turned off, and all the buttons didn't work. The phone could also not be reset, and could not get a screenshot. 

“I tried to remove his SIM card. Finally, the SSS App installation stopped.” 

The daughter told his father to check his bank accounts in several financial institutions, including e-wallets.

She said all the bank accounts were emptied in less than two hours.

The daughter said her father did not give any password, one-time password, phone number, or other personal information. 

They immediately deleted the app installer and called all the banks to report and block unauthorized transactions.

Following the incident, the SSS advised the public that it did not offer via call or text message any “special privileges” in exchange for updating the SSS mobile app.

A cybersecurity expert said the malware that the scammer used could be a remote access trojan. 

“When installed in your phone or in your laptop, the threat actor will have full access to your device and can even prevent the owner to operate the device,” said Angel Redoble. 

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, on the other hand, reminded the public not to transact with strangers via phone. 

“Huwag tayong makipag-transaksyon dahil hindi tayo nakakasiguro na maganda ang kahihitnan nito,” said  PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang.

(Let’s not transact with them because we cannot be sure if this will lead to something good.) 

The PNP’s cybercrime division is also expecting that it would have the chance to talk with the victim. 

“Sana matignan namin, makausap yung biktima para malaman natin kung ano yun,” said Yang. 

(I hope we can look into this and talk to the victim so we can get a better picture of the situation.) –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News