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April 19, 2004AMLC RESOLUTION NO. 357-04WHEREAS, The Secretariat has been receiving numerous reports on the so-called "text scam" both from the public directly and from the banking institutions, by way of suspicious transaction reports; DHSCTIWHEREAS, in "text scam", deceiving messages are sent to the prospective victims through cellular phones, using the names of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and other institutions, advising recipients of the message (the prospective victims) about winning millions of pesos in a supposed raffle draw. The swindlers would try to get their victims to deposit certain amounts of money in a particular bank account designated by the sender of the message or "text", purportedly for tax payments and other fees, as a precondition to getting the alleged prize. Once the victim deposits the money, the swindler makes an immediate withdrawal thereof, and the victim will not be able to get in touch with the swindler again;WHEREAS, "text scam'' falls within the crime of swindling (estafa) by means of deceit punishable...