NTC orders telcos to blast warnings vs. text scams having subscribers’ names

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has again ordered telecommunications companies to blast warnings to the public against scam text messages —this time containing the names of subscribers.

The National Telecommunications Commission orders telcos to blast warnings against the proliferation of fake job text, lucky winner, and similar money scams. pic.twitter.com/5g793SjSH7

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) August 31, 2022

In a memorandum dated August 26, the NTC directed mobile network service providers DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom, and Smart Communications to text blast to their subscribers from August 31 to September 6, 2022 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.”

The NTC issued similar orders in May, June, and July.

In issuing the latest order, the telecommunications regulator said that “the proliferation of fake job text, lucky winner, and similar money scams targeting the general public has persisted over the month of August across telecommunications networks in the country with the latest including the name of the recipient.”

In a report by Maki Pulido on "24 Oras,” authorities and experts reminded the public anew not to overshare personal information online and to be cautious against responding to scam texts as personal information of subscribers reach scammers through data breaches which are sold on the dark web.

The NTC also directed telcos to accelerate the process of blocking SIM cards that are being utilized to perpetrate the fraudulent activities and further enhance the messaging of their respective public information campaigns to factor in the new variants of the text scams.

Telcos were given until September 9 to submit written reports of their compliance to the NTC.

The telecommunications regulator also directed its regional directors and officers-in-charge to appear before local radio and television stations within their respective jurisdictions to warn the public against the continuing text scams from August 31 to September 6 and to continue their respective local public information campaigns to educate the public of the text scams.

The regional directors and officers-in-charge also have until September 9 to submit their compliance reports.

Police Lieutenant Michelle Sabino, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, said in the “24 Oras” report that as long as there is no law on the registration of SIM cards in the country, investigators will always face a dead end because scammers use prepaid cards.

In April this year, then President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the measure seeking the mandatory registration of all SIM cards and social media accounts, saying it needs further study.

The bill seeks to put an end to electronic and mobile phone-aided criminal activities and text scams, and guarantee a safer and more secure mobile phone and cyberspace use in the country.—AOL, GMA News