The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has no plans to allot funds as prizes in what it claimed as dubious raffle promos promising huge pots for winners.
A group that identified itself as the Noynoy Aquino Foundation was reported to be raking in huge revenues from unknowing victims of a raffle scam via text messaging system, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad warned.
Abad said that aside from the President, the DBM’s name has also been used by the dubious group behind the text scam.
“It has come to our attention that scammers claiming to be representatives of the (DBM) are sending text messages announcing winners (in) an alleged DBM raffle. The messages usually require the recipient to contact a specific number or send a reply to claim his/her prize,” he said.
Abad categorically denied their holding a raffle promo since the law does not allow government agencies other than the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to do so.
“Please be advised that the DBM does not hold raffle draws, promos or other similar contests. The DBM is a government agency that oversees public fund expenditure for the national government. As such, the DBM does not engage in commercial and promotional activities, nor does it contact individual members of the public via SMS (short messaging system),”  he added.
The budget chief went on to advise the public to disregard text messages purportedly sent by the DBM and other government departments and agencies.
He also urged scam victims or SMS recipients to report these incidents to the concerned department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Bureau of Investigation to facilitate proper criminal action against the perpetrators.