Telco Operators Group Alerts Public on Dangers of Spoofed SMS, Calls for Heightened Vigilance

The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) warns the public about the increasing threat of spoofed SMS, urging mobile phone users to exercise heightened vigilance to combat this sophisticated scam.

Spoofing is a technique where fraudsters impersonate SMS channels to deceive recipients. The practice has seen a marked rise, especially in Metro Manila, with the strict implementation of SIM registration last year to combat SMS fraud.

For instance, customers have reported incidents in which messages, imitating sender IDs of telcos and banks, entice them with fraudulent links to redeem non-existent rewards, including mobile devices. Those who fall for spoofed SMS and engage with senders may unwittingly give away personal and sensitive information, giving fraudsters access to their online accounts such as social media profiles, e-wallets, and banking accounts.

Telcos, banks, and financial institutions have taken proactive steps against spoofing, issuing public warnings and collaborating with partners and law enforcement agencies to apprehend the scammers.

 

The PCTO supports these measures and is actively working with all members to enhance the security and reliability of telco services across the country.

 

"Spoofing is a form of cybercrime that is increasingly difficult to detect. We’re urging everyone to be extra cautious with any SMS that asks for personal information or prompts to click on a link. Verify the authenticity of such messages by contacting the official customer service channels,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, PCTO President, and Globe General Counsel.

 

Spoofing is not unique to the Philippines but is a global concern. It is facilitated using illegal equipment such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers or fake cell towers.

 

These devices, which can be transported by foot or vehicle, simulate cell towers to intercept mobile communications within a certain radius, enabling them to connect to and send messages to phones within the covered area with sender IDs that imitate official accounts. This method bypasses telco networks’ spam filters, making detection and prevention particularly challenging.

 

The PCTO urges the public to report any suspicious message to their respective service providers and to follow best practices for digital security. This includes avoiding clicking on links from unknown sources, never sharing personal information via SMS, and regularly updating their knowledge on the latest scam tactics.

 

By raising awareness and promoting collective vigilance, the PCTO aims to safeguard the public against these deceptive and harmful practices.

 

For further information and updates, please visit https://www.facebook.com/letsgophtelco/.

Globe warns against criminals using SIM registration law to scam public

Leading digital solutions platform Globe warns the public against unscrupulous groups and individuals who are taking advantage of the SIM registration law to scam people.

“We have received reports that there are groups and individuals taking advantage of the new law by sending misleading text messages to unsuspecting mobile phone users. We would like to remind our customers to ignore these messages and report them to our Stop Spam website,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.

Bonifacio said text messages informing users that their SIMs have been deactivated are just a ploy to get their personal information and hard-earned money. The SIM Registration law has yet to take full effect as its implementing rules and regulations are still being finalized.

All Globe and TM customers will be duly informed once the IRR is in place.

Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, was signed into law on October 10, 2022, and aims to provide accountability for those using SIM cards and aid law enforcement in tracking perpetrators of crimes committed through mobile phones.

The move is expected to boost government initiatives against fraud perpetrated through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent in recent years.

Under the law, users can only activate their new SIMs by registering with their provider. Existing subscribers, meanwhile, must register within 180 days from the start of the law’s implementation or risk having their SIM deactivated.

Latest data show that Globe blocked more than 32.2 million scams and spam text messages in just two weeks after implementing measures to block uniform resource locators (URLs) in person-to-person text messages.

From September 28 to October 13, it blocked about 2.4 million SMS with clickable links daily. From January to September 2022, meanwhile, it stopped 1.3 billion spam and scam messages, already exceeding the 2021 full-year total of 1.1 billion.

Globe has spent P1.1 billion on a system that detects and blocks spam and scam SMS. Its 24/7 Security Operations Center filters unwanted messages, including app-to-person and person-to-person SMS of international and domestic sources.

Globe continues to encourage its customers to use Android devices to install spam filters on their phones. Learn how through this instructional video.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Globe strengthens SMS anti-spam efforts

Globe continues to heighten its anti-spam and anti-scam campaign through a dedicated cybersecurity team that has deactivated 5,670 confirmed spam numbers, and successfully blocked close to 71 million spam messages in this year alone.

The company’s specialized teams are part of a larger internal Cybersecurity and Data Privacy group that responds to spam complaints and proactively deals with spammers and scams. Globe terminates and blocks numbers of detected spammers through its systems, including those reported through www.globe.com.ph/stopspam. 

“We take unsolicited and fraudulent messages seriously, and protecting Globe customers from these scams remains a top business priority,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.  He added that since the pandemic started, the company has invested an additional $7.25 million in CAPEX solely to continue enhancing anti-spam capabilities in its network.

Globe has also partnered with major universal and commercial banks, as well as Lazada and Shopee, to minimize not just spam but also scams and phishing activities; ensuring the protection of customers within the network. These partner companies report fake numbers, spoofed sender names, and websites, which Globe in turn blocks in its network immediately, as they are reported.

Globe stressed that, while it is doing what it can to control spam on the network side, there are also tools available to customers on the "device" side. Customers can use the "Messages" app by Google as their default Android SMS messenger for instance, since the app has highly-effective built-in spam filters similar to how a "Google Mail" user may have built-in spam filters.

“Given the ongoing pandemic, many businesses are struggling to get their products across to consumers. This has contributed to a  surge in unsolicited marketing campaigns from digital marketers or spammers, who use existing number databases culled from public information or online data,” added Bonifacio. 

Globe is fully aware of the inconveniences and related problems that may arise from such text messaging scams, and continues to intensify efforts to create a spam-free experience for all customers.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 UN SDGs.

 

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.