The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is working with the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) to develop a new tool to combat smishing. Smishing is a scam that uses deceptive text messages to trick victims into giving up their personal information.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Php 15-million research project (called Behavioral Biometrics and Content Analysis: A Multi-Pronged Machine Learning Approach to Thwarting SMS Phishing) aims to create machine learning algorithms that can analyze user behavior patterns and SMS message content to identify potential smishing attempts.
The project will use behavioral biometrics and content analysis techniques to detect anomalies in typing dynamics, touchscreen interactions, and message content. “With the ML continuously learning and updating user profiles based on the analyzed behavior patterns, ML models can adapt to evolving tactics and strategies of smishing activities,” the proposal states.
CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos commended the initiative, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to address the growing threat of smishing in the Philippines. He emphasized that the research project will not only benefit the CICC but also other law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity professionals.
Smishing remains a top threat to Filipinos, with attackers employing various tactics to trick victims. Common smishing schemes include bank fraud alerts, missed delivery notifications, account verification requests, tech support scams, and lottery or contest notifications.
If you receive any suspicious text messages, report them to the Inter Agency Response Center Hotline 1326.
Feature image: College of St. Benilde Facebook
