Scam or not? Cocoplans / Prudential Life Datamex scholarship

Have you ever received a text message like this? (Exact SMS message I got)

Cocoplans Inc. Last Notification:
Good Day! We are proudly informing you that you are one of our lucky recipients who entitled to claim a PERSONAL INSURANCE, FREE SCHOLARSHIP VOUCHER and other Rewards and Privileges. Your claiming code is AT2#***### (*=Letter ; #=Number). You may claim your certificate until Jan. 23, 2010 in our Binondo Business Center. For more info pls call us today at 3096250/3096251/4890375 or this mobile#09326668880. Look for Mr. Fernan Sunga

If you have, we are not the only ones to have gotten this message. In fact, tons of other people have received this message in different variations like this next one:

"Greetings! This is Ms.Rosalie Nicol of Cocoplans Inc. We are proudly informing you that you are one of our lucky recipient who is entitled to claim a two-year DATAMEX Scholarship Certificate with a free tuition fee, personal accident insurance and other rewards and privileges. Your security claiming code is MVS-#####-***. You may claim your certificate on or before August 14,2009 in our Makati business center. For more information,you may call us at 02-8563860/02-8563871. Thank you!"
SMS from +639324237395 (Source)

or maybe this one:

Greetings! This is Maricel Alvarez of Cocoplans, Inc. We are proudly informing you that you are one of the lucky recipients who is entitled to claim a two-year DATAMEX Scholarship with a free tuition fee, personal accident insurance and other rewards and privileges. Your security claiming code is MVS-26619-CCP. You may claim your certificate on or before Sept. 1 to 3, 2009 in our Makati Business Center. For more information you may call us at 856-3169 or 356-3855. Thank you!
SMS from +639229492872 (Source)

Yet another...:

As part of Prudential Life Market Corporation Agency initiated Promotion, you just been chosen to receive free tuition fee for a two year computer course at datamex (miscellaneous and other fees not included) free insurance nd 5 coupons for our cash raffle of Php 50,000 covering the period of July to Dec 2008. Activate and claim it now at Rada branch, Makati/ For your claiming code, please call upon receipt of this message, 8129585.
(Source)

Yes, one message, different companies and tons of variations.

So first, what is this Datamex? Upon searching using Google, here are some of the information I found:

- Datamex Computer College / Datamex Computer School / Datamex Institute of Computer Technology is not registered under Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
- Datamex have 10 branches or more. Here are some: Fairview, Tacloban, Novaliches, Las Piñas, Antipolo, Meycauayan, Mandaue Cebu, Valenzuela, Taft. (For verification)
- Datamex is/must be under TESDA
- Datamex is part of a government program that aims to provide "Ladderized Curriculum". Ladderized Education is a new system of education in the Philippines that allows learners to progress between Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and College, and vice-versa. (TESDA FAQ)

Connection of Cocoplans / Prudential Life to Datamex

Upon reading almost all the possible search results, I found out that Cocoplans/ Prudential Life is using Datamex as a promotional gimmick to attract possible "policy" buyers. They are using the "Free Scholarship" as a bait to attract customers.

According to Starwin14 of TipidPC, he was one of the tele-marketers and they use the phone directory to call their prospective targets. They don't have salaries. Instead, for every person they can bring in, they get 100 Pesos (Roughly $2 USD) If they can sell that person an insurance policy, that's where the commission gets bigger.

So that's their main strategy.

Requirements to claim the "FREE" Datamex Scholarship:
1. Company ID
2. Government ID
3. Bank ID (such as visa or mastercard)

LOL. Bank ID?? haha! Something is really fishy. Why would you need a credit card este BANK ID? hmm...


They win if /You lose if:
Get you interested, make you go to their office, explain their plans / policies (full 100% attention because you are already there in person), sweet talk (maybe) you to let them swipe your card and get your free Datamex free scholarship.

They lose if/ You win if:
You get interested with the free scholarship, go to their office, let them explain their plans and policies (with your 100% decision of not buying any of their plans and policies), not to be sweet talked to swipe your card and get your free Datamex scholarship then leave.

But, how to you do the latter? Read this blog by Melbagabuya (Not a sure-fire way but it worked for her)

Warning though, there are some reports that they include the Free Datamex scholarship only when you purchase their plans/ policies. (source)

So, is the Datamex Scholarship really free with no strings attached?

Actually, it's still not entirely free. Upon enrolling, you will still be asked for 3,000 pesos (est) as miscellaneous fee. From 5,000 to 7,000 pesos misc fee PER SEMESTER according to this reply.

*some people are selling their Datamex Scholarship vouchers. Although transferable, they are of no value and is not for sale. This has already been featured in ABS-CBN's XXX.

Is the Datamex scholarship worth all the trouble?

If you have tons of time in your hands, then go. You have nothing to lose. If you are working your ass off and can't miss work even once because of a tight budget, I suggest you skip this one.

Here are some of the feedbacks of some "students"/ "datamex customers":- Ratio of computer to student in their Imus branch = 1:10 (source)
- Computer specifications very outdated (source)
- Datamex Valenzuela Branch: No instructors and often has no classes (source)
and lots more. If you want to read the feedbacks, visit THIS WEBSITE.

Now, it's up to you if you want to avail and take advantage of the free scholarship. I'm not saying that this is a scam. What I'm sure of is, this is a marketing strategy of the said companies.

Here are some more reading materials regarding the Datamex/ Cocoplans/ Prudential life Spams:

http://imus.olx.com.ph/datamex-free-tuition-fee-in-any-computer-course-certificate-2-yr-course-iid-2205628
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=174011
http://www.istorya.net/forums/general-discussions/218365-cocoplans-with-datamex-scholarship-scam-or-not.html
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=123300
http://pasig.olx.com.ph/college-scholarship-for-all-iid-2079096


Feel free to share your experiences below.

Good day to all :)

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Burundanga Business Cards Hoax

Minutes ago, I got a new hoax received thru text/ SMS again! It's something about a burundanga drug being imbued in a calling card handed to a person.

Image from The Hoax Slayer . com

The exact SMS/ Email circulating below:

"Pls share with ur loves ones, friends.

a man came over and offered his service as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no, but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by anothes man. As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the same time.

Almost imm, she started 2 feel dizzy and could not catch her breath, she tried to open the window and realized that d odor was on her hands; d same hand which accepted d card fr d man at d service station. She then noticed the men were imm behind her n she felt she needed 2 do something at dat moment. She drove into d 1st driveway n bgan 2 honk her horn repeadly 2 ask for help.

D men drove away but d lady stil felt pretty bad for several mins after she finally catch her breath. Apparently, there was a substance on the card dat could hv seriously injured her. Dis drug s called 'BURUNDANGA' B it s used by people who wish 2 incapacitate a victim in order 2 steal or take advantage of dem. Dis drug s 4x more dangerous than d date rape drug n s transferable ou simple cards.

So take heed n make sure u dnt accept cards at any given time alone or fr stranger. Dis applies 2 those making hoouse calls n slipping u a card when dey offer their service.

Try googling burundanga for some info on this drug."

*whew!* that was a long one! The message above is exactly as I received it. Those are typos but those are from the circulating messages. I checked it and it reached almost 10 messages! This is the Philippine version of the burundanga hoax! It's like a scene from a movie! My goodness!

Here is another version of it:

"Share with your sisters, daughters, nieces, mothers, female friends, EVERYONE.

NEW WARNING!! Incident has been confirmed

In Katy, Tx a man came over and offered his services as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no , but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station and saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station.

She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn to ask for help. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently there was a substance on the card and could have seriously injured her. The drug is called 'BURUNDANGA' and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal or take advantage of them.

Four times greater than date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards. So take heed and make sure you don't accept cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services."

There are several other versions of it...

Anyway, after a bit of research, I discovered that:

-All sources agree that burundanga must be inhaled or ingested, or the subject must have prolonged topical contact with it, in order for it to have an effect.

- burundanga must be taken with food or drink or inhaled as a powder. There are unsubstantiated stories that claim that criminals have drugged victims by blowing burundanga into their faces as they unfold a piece of paper that has previously been powdered with the drug. Other reports suggest that burundanga is more commonly administered by adding it to the unwary victim's food or drink.

- The said burundanga drug is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. How did she realize the odor in her hands then?

What is burundanga then?

Burundanga is the street version of a pharmaceutical drug called scopolamine. It is made from the extracts of plants in the nightshade family such as henbane and jimson weed. It's a deliriant, meaning it can induce symptoms of delirium such as disorientation, loss of memory, hallucinations, and stupor. (are they sure this isn't a sign of old age?) lol

You can see why it would be popular with criminals.

In powdered form scopolamine can be easily mixed into food or drink, or blown directly into victims' faces, forcing them to inhale it.

The drug achieves its "zombifying" effects by inhibiting the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and muscles. It has several legitimate medicinal uses, including the treatment of nausea, motion sickness, and gastrointestinal cramps. Historically, it has also been used as a "truth serum" by law enforcement agencies. And, like its street cousin burundanga, scopolamine has frequently been implicated as a stupefying agent or "knockout drug" in the commission of crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, and date rape.

The absence of such basic details (such as victim's name, exact location where it happened, street name of the driveway, the "painters" name) in the warning makes it difficult or impossible to verify. This generic quality is often a characteristic of hoaxes and urban legends since too much detail means that such stories can be too easily debunked.

It is possible that the said drug is used to hypnotize victims but before doing so, they must inhale/ingest it. There were several reports here in the Philippines of victims that are said to be hypnotized. This must be the culprit... or is it another hoax? Let us find out...

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Got my U mobile sim today! (problem?)

Yehey!

Got my U-mobile sim today!



...with 100 pesos free load for the next 6 months!!!!!!!

I noticed a few things though...
1. I cannot send text messages to globe telecom subscribers
2. I cannot send text messages to sun cellular subscribers
3. My number doesn't appear on other networks caller ID. (" Withheld " appears instead of my number)
4. what else... I noticed all that after 5 minutes of opening my sim package.

No complaints yet though. Still happy to receive a U-mobile sim.

*sending SMS/ Text messages to smart network is fine.

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Hoax: Big Radiation Wave

WTF!? Why the hell are people believing this hoax? It is ok to turn your phones off but if you believed it, good luck to you! You should verify something before believing text messages that are circulating.

The text message forwarded to me was exactly this, "Pls switch OFF all ur handphone 2NITE. According to Metro TV, an international news, there will be a BIG RADIATION WAVE circulating thru the handphone towers at 11PM 2nite which is very DANGEROUS to humans. Pls inform ur friends NOT 2 keep their phones with them. Please FORWARD.."

First of all, Metro TV is a TV station in Malaysia and it is not an international news or news channel. Second, what about those who wasn't able to receive the text message? Would they be in grave danger by now? What about those who turned off their phones, but some nearby phones wasn't turned off? Will they be near death too? Lastly, It has been circulating in text messaging or SMS since more than 5 days ago or more. Will we all be dead by now because we hadn't turned off our mobile phones on 11pm for the last 5 days?

Please be warned. Common Sense. Do not believe in everything you hear. Verify it yourself first.

IF THIS IS REALLY A BIG DANGEROUS THING. IT SHOULD BE ALL OVER THE NEWS RIGHT NOW OR FOR THE PAST 5 DAYS!

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