NTC orders telcos to blast warnings on spam text messages

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered telcos to blast messages warning their subscribers about the proliferation of job recruitment spam text messages.

In a memorandum dated November 19, 2021, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba directed Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, DITO Telecommunity Corp., and Digital Mobile Philippines to text blast the following message with the NTC as sender: “BABALA! Huwag maniwala sa text na diumano’y nagaalok ng trabaho. Huwag po magbigay ng personal na impormasyon. Ito po ay scam.”

The telcos are given until December 14, 2021 to submit their compliance report on the latest directive to the Office of the Commissioner.

The National Privacy Commission found in its investigation that a global organized syndicate was behind the influx of spam text messages.

The Privacy body also eased concerns that the spam messages might be due to leaks from contact tracing forms, saying there was no direct evidence showing such correlation.

Smart, meanwhile, said it is blocking mobile numbers and IP addresses related to the spam messages. — DVM, GMA News