The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has tasked Smart Communications, Globe, and DITO Telecommunity to address smishing and scam text messages that have been plaguing the public as of late.
To combat the threat, the NTC has directed the telcos to send out warning text messages to their respective subscribers. The text blast will run from September 9 to 15, 2022, containing the following message: “BABALA. HUWAG PONG MANIWALA SA TEXT NA NAGLALAMAN NG INYONG PANGALAN NA NAG-AALOK NG TRABAHO, PABUYA O PERA. ITO PO AY ISANG SCAM (Warning. Don’t believe text messages that include your name and are offering jobs, rewards or money. This is a scam).”
Smishing and other text scams have seen an increase in activity, so far that they now include the names of their intended victims. “The proliferation of ‘personalized’ fake jobs, lucky winners, bonus cash, and other similar money scams targeting the general public has continued in the month of September across the telecommunications networks in the country,” said the NTC.
The telcos are also directed to ramp up their efforts in blocking SIM cards used for fraudulent activities.
See also: How scammers are getting names for smishing and text scams
The National Privacy Commission has ruled out breaches as the source of the names used in personalized text scams. It was revealed that cybercriminals have harvested information from e-wallets and messaging apps.
It goes without saying that if you receive a dubious text message (job offers, lucky winners, bonus cash, and other similar money scams) with your name, delete the message immediately and do not open any suspicious links within.
