NTC says hard to stop spam texts, bats for SIM card registration

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) admitted that it is difficult to stop spam text messages and to track down the persons behind them, according to Marisol Abdurahman’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.

“Kung mapapansin natin, lahat ito kung dumadaan ng telco puro prepaid eh kung prepaid yan hindi nakarehistro so yung ating law enforcement agencies mahihirapan silang matukoy kung sino sila,” NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said.

(If you notice, all these passing through telcos use prepaid. If they are using prepaid, then it is not registered which is why authorities are finding it hard to track them.)

The NTC vowed its support for a law on SIM card to help institutionalize protection for mobile phone users in the country.

The agency urged the public not to reply in these text messages or give personal information especially to texters that are not included in their phone directory.  

The NTC said telecommunications companies have also been instructed to provide advisory to their subscribers.

PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) said they are taking action against the senders of spam texts.

“We identify the aggregator, we suspend the account of the aggregator even before telling them,” Angel Redoble,  PLDT's chief information security officer.

He advised the users not to click the links on spam messages and just “ignore, delete, and block” them.

“Kapag nag click ka nung link na ‘yon kumbaga yung isang paa mo nandoon na nakasalang na sa scammer,” Redoble said.

Globe Telecom Inc. urged customers to use built-in SMS spam filters or blockers to fend off scam messages from unknown senders.

“Should spam messages still get through, customers may report these to Globe via https://www.globe.com.ph/stop-spam or directly to the National Telecommunications Commission,” Globe Telecom said.

“The company blocked a total of 1.15 billion scam and spam messages, around 7,000 mobile numbers to scammers, and 2,000 unofficial social media accounts and phishing sites in 2021,” it added.

Jessa Lebrilla, a phone user who always receives spam messages, said she received these texts since March last year.

She admitted that she felt excited about the messages which promised that she can claim money.

“Kasi may pera po eh, may halaga po eh. Nireplayan ko po siya paano maclaim yung pera (There is money, there is value. I replied and asked how to claim the money),” Lebrilla said.

Since then, unknown numbers started calling and texting offering jobs, extra income, incentives and freebies.

“Nakakainis po talaga, kasi yung number mo is saan nila nakukuha? Paano sila nakakapagtext at tumatawag pa po. Panay ring ng cellphone, minsan binablock ko na lang sila,” Lebrilla said.

(It's really annoying, because where did they get your number? How can they text and still call? My cellphone constantly rings, sometimes I just block them.)

Senator Grace Poe called on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the NTC to increase their efforts in addressing the "unabated surge" of text scams.

"The unabated surge of text scams has brought further hardship and distress on our people who are already mired in debts. This must stop," Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said in a statement.

"The whole of government must ensconce a safer and more secure digital and mobile phone use in the country to protect our people from falling deeper into poverty and helplessness. To most, the mobile phone is their only means to survive, and it shouldn't at all be compromised," the senator said.

In the 18th Congress, Poe had sponsored the SIM Card Registration Bill. However, it was vetoed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte before the sine die adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The proposed measure mandates all public telecommunications entities  to require the registration of SIM cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation.

The bill also proposes all social media networks to also require the real name and phone number of users upon creation of account.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News