Associated Incidents
In a troubling development illustrating the vulnerability of Guam's elderly to sophisticated technology-driven scams, even the family members of top telecommunications executives aren't immune to fraudulent schemes.
Docomo Pacific has issued, through a press release, a public service announcement warning residents about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven scam calls specifically targeting the island's manåmko', after the company's own president and CEO, Christine Baleto, revealed to The Guam Daily Post that her mother was targeted by scammers.
"This public service announcement hit close to home because my mother received a call intended to steal her identity," Baleto told the Post. "The caller, who claimed he was from a federal agency, tried to pressure her into verifying her personal information, stating that they had found her ID and other personal information in a car with drugs in it."
According to Baleto, the scammers employed pressure tactics commonly used in such schemes, threatening that "they would send agents to the house if she didn't comply."
The telecommunications company's warning comes in the wake of a major fraud bust where 25 Canadian nationals were indicted on charges of orchestrating scams targeting elderly communities across more than 40 U.S. states. Docomo Pacific officials noted that advances in artificial intelligence have made these scams increasingly difficult to detect, as fraudsters can now use AI technology to clone the voices of family members.
This technological advancement adds a disturbing new dimension to an already pervasive problem affecting Guam's senior citizens, Docomo said. Voice cloning technology allows scammers to impersonate loved ones convincingly, creating scenarios where elderly residents believe they're helping family members in distress when they're actually transferring money to criminals.
The telecommunications provider highlighted several warning signs that residents should be aware of, including scammers' use of genuine personal details often gleaned from social media, pressure tactics urging immediate action and requests for secrecy.
Docomo Pacific emphasized that legitimate organizations, including government agencies and financial institutions, never employ high-pressure tactics or demand unconventional payment methods such as gift cards.
Baleto expressed pride in her mother's vigilance when faced with the attempted scam. "Thank goodness she didn't give any information," Baleto said. "I'm proud that my mother was alert enough to call and verify before she gave any information, and we want others to be equipped to do the same."
To help residents protect themselves against these increasingly sophisticated schemes, Docomo Pacific recommends several precautionary measures. These include verifying callers by contacting family members through trusted phone numbers, discussing suspicious calls with trusted individuals, maintaining healthy skepticism about unexpected communications and protecting personal information.
The company advises anyone who encounters suspected scam attempts to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission through the FCC's consumer complaints portal at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/.
Residents seeking additional information or assistance regarding potential scams can contact Docomo Pacific customer service at 671-688-CARE (2273) for Guam or 670-488-CARE for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.