BDO, nagbabala laban sa mga ‘vishing’ scam

PATULOY na pinag-iingat ang publiko laban sa tinatawag na "vishing" o voice phishing scam na kadalasang tumatarget ng mga bank depositor o online bank account client para nakawin ang kanilang pinaghirapang pera.

Ang vishing ay isang modus ng scam kung saan ang scammer ay tumatawag upang makumbinsi ang kanilang nabiktima na magbigay ng sensitibong impormasyon tulad ng bank account details. Kapag nakuha na ang nasabing impormasyon, dito na maaaring nakawin ng scammer ang laman ng bank account ng biktima. 

Ayon sa BDO Unibank, narito ang ilan sa kadalasang ginagamit na modus ng mga vishing scammer upang mangbiktima:

 

1.     Tatawag sa biktima at magpapanggap na representante ng isang ahensya ng gobyerno, bangko, o di kaya'y magpapadala ng text o direct message para sila na mismo ang tawagan ng napili nilang biktima.

 

2.     Upang makumbinsi ang biktima na sya ay lehitimo, gagamit ang scammer ng impormasyong tungkol sa credit card o bank account ng biktima bilang dahilan ng kanyang pagtawag. Ang mga impormasyong ito ay maaaring makuha ng mga scammer sa mga dokumentong may sensitibong detalye na hindi naitapon ng maayos, o sa mga posts sa social media ng mismong biktima. May mga pagkakataon din na bumibisita o sumasali mismo ang mga scammer sa mga "credit card o bank account groups" sa social media para doon sila maghanap ng mabibiktima.  

 

3.     Gagamit ng pananakot o mabilis at kapani-paniwalang pananalita ang mga scammer upang tuluyang makumbinsi ang kanilang biktima, tulad ng mga katagang "na-hack ang iyong account", "may na-detect na problema sa account mo", "Congrats! Nanalo ka ng...," "Special Offer! Effective only today!," o inaatasan ang biktima na i-activate ang isang offer sa ATM kapalit ng isang reward.  

 

4.     Habang tumatagal ang usapan, tumataas din ang posibilidad na makumbinsi ng scammer ang biktima. Dahil inaakala ng biktima na lehitimo ito at hindi nya makayang putulin ang tawag o ibaba ang telepono, mas malaki rin ang posibilidad na sundin nya kung anomang instructions ang ibigay ng scammer tulad ng pagbibigay ng Card Verification Value o CVV ng credit card, username at password ng online bank account, One-Time PIN o OTP, o ang pag-click sa isang link na ipapadala ng scammer.

Sa lahat ng mga nabanggit na scenario, ang pinakakaraniwan dito ay ang pagmamadali ng scammer sa biktima nila na umaksyon na agad habang kausap ito sa telepono. Dahil dito, maaaring mataranta ang biktima at sumunod sa mga ibibigay na utos ng scammer.

Upang hindi maging biktima ng vishing scam, nagpapaalala ang BDO sa publiko na laging maging mahinahon kung makakatanggap ng text o tawag lalo sa mga hindi rehistradong numero. Dagdag pa ng bangko na kahit na alam ng scammer ang numero, pangalan at trabaho nila, huwag kaagad maniniwala sa binibitawang mensahe o susunod sa mga instruction nito. Marapat na tapusin na ang tawag lalo na kung may pagmamadali, at tumawag sa official customer service hotline ng sinasabing ahensya o bangko, dagdag pa ng BDO.

Ayon pa sa BDO, matapos ma-verify na peke ang nasabing tawag, i-block na agad ang numerong ginamit ng scammer at i-report ang insidente sa Customer Contact Center nito.

Para alamin ang iba’t-ibang uri ng scam at tips kung paano makakaiwas dito, marapat na bumisita lang sa www.bdo.com.ph. #BDOStopScam

Read More

Filinvest Land Tops Off Building A in Futura Monte Naga

Trusted property developer Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) recently held a topping-off ceremony for Futura Monte’s Building A in Naga City, marking the official completion of its structural framework. Soon, this building will stand as the embodiment of quality living within reach.

With its steady construction progress, Building A is expected to be ready for turnover by the fourth quarter of 2025. By then, residents can enjoy the ideal lifestyle inside a safe and secure community complete with comfortable living spaces, vibrant greenery, and healthy venues for family bonding.

Futura Monte is conveniently located along Roxas Avenue in Brgy. Triangulo at the heart of Naga City. Its prime location allows easy access to daily necessities with schools, churches, hospitals, malls, and various essential establishments nearby. It also provides seamless commute with its proximity to accessible transportation hubs.

Thoughtfully crafted with the residents’ well-being in mind, Futura Monte dedicates 60% of the property to lush open spaces and complete, family-centric amenities. Four mid-rise buildings with a modern minimalist design comprise this 1.9-hectare enclave, creating a harmonious balance between nature and modernity.

One of Futura Monte’s central amenities is the clubhouse with swimming pool. This is where gatherings, occasions, and even simple relaxing moments take place, building stronger connections and creating lasting memories with loved ones. A play area is also available for kids to embrace their childhood joys, while adults can pursue their health goals in the fitness gym.

Building A consists of well-appointed units that cater to the varied needs of the market—from studio units to 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units. These living spaces are built with reinforced concrete to ensure durability and convenient functionality. Embedded columns and beams are also integrated to create optimized and adaptable spaces for families and individuals to embrace their independence.

Futura Monte’s attractive features have caught the attention of aspiring homeowners. Units in Building A are already sold out, officially establishing the success of the project in Naga City. This milestone is another testament to Filinvest’s mission of building Filipino dreams by efficiently meeting the high demand of young professionals and start-up families seeking their ideal home. 

With a proven track record of creating quality and sustainable communities for over 60 years, Filinvest Land ensures that Futura Monte is a worthy investment poised for growth. With its accessible location and attractive offers, units in Building A have great potential for property appreciation over time.

To know more about this modern mid-rise community, interested parties can contact (0917) 545-7788 / (0919) 076-4836 or visit the project website: https://futurabyfilinvest.com/project/futura-monte# for more information. 

For inquiries, please contact: 

GENEDINA MESA 

Senior Manager – Media & Admin. 

genedina.mesa@filinvestland.com 

 

About Filinvest Land  

 

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), is one of the country’s leading and multi-awarded full-range property developers. It is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the trading symbol $FLI. Staying true to its mission, FLI continues to build the Filipino dream across the Philippines.  

  

For over 60 years, FLI has built a diverse project portfolio spanning the archipelago, from its core best-value homes to residential townships, mid- and high-rise condominiums, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial parks, co-living properties, and leisure developments.   

  

These include the large-scale townships: Havila (306 hectares), Timberland Heights (677 hectares), and Manna East (60 hectares) in Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba (350 hectares) in Laguna; Palm Estates (51 hectares) in Talisay City, Negros Occidental; and City di Mare, the Lifestyle Capital of Cebu (50 hectares).  

  

FLI owns 20% of Filinvest Alabang, Inc., developer of Filinvest City (244 hectares), South Metro Manila’s premier garden central business district and home to Festival Mall, the flagship Filinvest Mall in Alabang. FLI is also developing two townships in the Clark Freeport Special Economic Zone: the industrial Filinvest Innovation Park-New Clark City (288 hectares) and Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City (201 hectares), the former in partnership with BCDA, and the latter in partnership with FDC. 

Read More

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Naga City Government, team up to boost PET bottle collection and recycling efforts

In line with its mission to support local communities’ sustainable waste management efforts, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the Philippines, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize its partnership with the City of Naga and its community partners. As part of this collaboration, CCBPI provided a baling machine to support the city’s PET bottle collection and recycling initiatives. 

Representatives present (L-R) during the signing: Alfredo M. Gatongay of the Independent Component City Agriculture and Fishery Council of Naga, Annielen L. Panerio, General Manager of the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Chairperson of RAFC Region 5 Bernadette delos Santos, and Chief of PMED and RAFC Bicol Regional Executive Officer Aloha Gigi Bañaria.

"CCBPI is proud to support the City of Naga in promoting its waste management initiatives and empowering its community members to actively participate in the city’s collection and recycling efforts. We thank all our partners—Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council of Region 5—for working with us towards our goal of fostering cleaner and greener communities,” says Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, CCBPI VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs.

The partnership underscores the shared commitment of Coca-Cola, the local government, and partner communities to fostering a collective effort toward creating a circular economy for recyclable plastic packaging in Naga. Central to the effort is the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, which leverages its network of over 7,000 members to execute the collection initiatives for post-consumer clear PET plastic bottles within the city. The Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council Region 5 will help oversee the project implementation to ensure that the collection efforts are seamlessly integrated into the community’s needs.

The goal is to ensure that all collected clear PET plastic bottles, regardless of brand, are diverted to PETValue Philippines, the country's first facility dedicated to bottle-to-bottle recycling. PETValue employs advanced technologies to transform fully recyclable post-consumer plastic packaging into new food-grade recycled PET (rPET) bottles. This facility is a joint venture between CCBPI and Indorama Ventures, a global sustainable chemical company.

Through strong multi-sectoral partnership, the initiative aims to promote a circular economy that is geared towards protecting the environment, supporting local livelihoods, and creating a better future for the residents of Naga City. 

Read More

Education beyond the classroom: Teachers learn FinLit lessons in session organized by BDO Foundation

 OCTOBER 2024 – A teacher’s influence extends beyond the four walls of the classroom. Recognizing the role of teachers in guiding the youth, the Department of Education (DepEd) and BDO Foundation organized a financial literacy session for the benefit of 20 teachers from Naga, 20 teachers from Iriga, and 60 teachers and nonteaching personnel from Camarines Sur in commemoration of this year’s National Teachers’ Month. This was hosted by Schools Division Office - Camarines Sur. 

DepEd Camarines Sur Schools Division Superintendent Norma B. Samantela, CESO V and BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito witnessed the financial literacy session. (Photo courtesy of Empower and Transform)

Designed to empower teachers in the early stages of their career, the session focused on essential financial management lessons like budgeting, saving, financial planning, debt management, and fraud and scam prevention.

“As teachers, we are responsible for setting a positive example to our students – we are their second parents after all,” said Norma Samantela, Camarines Sur schools division superintendent. “This training initiative enables us to be better role models as we make sound financial decisions and secure our futures and those of our families.”

 

DepEd and BDO Foundation work closely to help improve the financial literacy levels of beneficiaries in the education sector. Together with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the partners currently implement a financial education program for public schools across the country.

Teachers actively participated in visioning exercises designed to identify financial goals. (Photo courtesy of Empower and Transform)

Veteran business journalist and staunch fin ed advocate Salve Duplito facilitated the learning session held at Lotus Blu Hotel. Raised by a mother who was also an educator, she related to the common struggles of teachers, especially those with family responsibilities.

 

“Sharing the gift of knowledge that hones the minds of the youth is what teachers do best. We want to give back to them in the same way – through financial education,” she shared.

 

Financial inclusion is one of the program pillars of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank. The initiative in Naga is one of the many efforts of the organization to spearhead actions that aim to help improve the economic well-being of Filipinos in different sectors of society.

Read More

A story of service and resiliency: BDO remains online amidst the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine

IN the face of great damage brought by Tropical Storm Kristine to the Bicol Region, BDO Unibank remained online within the Rinconada District to serve the community’s cash requirements at a dire time when people needed access to their funds.

The only one. BDO branch in Iriga City was the only bank in whole Rinconada District in Camarines Sur to remain online during Tropical Storm Kristine’s surge.

The Rinconada District encompasses the municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Nabua, and Iriga City.

 

According to Romeo R. De Vera III, Senior Assistant Vice President and Area Head of Region 6-Southern Luzon, the BDO branch in Iriga City remained open to clients in need of cash on October 24, when the rest were not available

De Vera explained that to ensure uninterrupted service to their clients even during calamities, they strategically deployed personnel and resources where they were needed the most, as some branches had to close due to floods and other challenges. He also stressed that BDO prioritized the welfare of its personnel, especially during these challenging situations. "That's always been our practice during calamities—after securing our respective homes and families, our personnel then headed to the branches to help get these up and running, ready to serve our clients.”

 

All in a day's work

 

For De Vera, it's business as usual even in the face of typhoons.

 

"For us, as long as the roads are passable, we went and help out where we were needed. But we only asked employees who were able to report for work and not adversely affected by the flood,” he pointed out.

 

He also proudly shared that resilience is one of the many positive traits of Bicolanos like him.

 

"When it comes to calamities, Bicolanos are resilient. It's just a typhoon. But this (Tropical Storm Kristine) was the strongest we've had in 30 years. We were surprised by the magnitude of the ensuing floods," he admitted. "But here in BDO, it's nothing new. Like we always say here, ‘we find ways.’ That's why our clients are so happy with us, as even clients from other banks were able to withdraw using our ATMs."

 

He also noted the bank’s “We find ways” philosophy extend not only to the level of service they provide to their clients, but also to the support they offer to fellow employees especially amid trying times.

 

This, De Vera explained, came to fore when personnel from other branches were unable to go home because of the floods.

 

"A branch manager opened her home to one of the staff who got stranded and was unable to go home because of the flood. The same was true for personnel in our Camarines Sur-Nabua Branch, who were stranded there. We also would like to thank our Security Division for facilitating the delivery of relief goods," he said.

Read More