Privacy commission probes text scams with recipients’ names

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is now investigating the incidence of spam or unsolicited text messages which contain the names of subscribers or recipients.

In a statement on Thursday, Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga said the Privacy body is “monitoring and investigating the proliferation of unsolicited text messages from anonymous numbers, with some containing the receiver’s names.”

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has earlier ordered telcos to once again blast warnings to the public concerning the new variety of spam text messages. 

In an earlier 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.

Naga said the NPC held a meeting with telecommunications providers, where the companies committed to intensify their technological and security safeguards, including the blocking of numbers to curb the surge immediately, among others.

“We are also in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission to share information and conduct concerted actions to the full extent of our respective mandates,” he said.

The NPC chief said the Privacy body will hold an open public webinar next week.

“[W]e shall discuss the risks and harms of receiving these text messages, the best practices to protect ourselves from being scammed, and other useful information that we can apply to our daily lives. We invite everyone to join this event, and we hope for your active participation in this initiative,” Naga said.

“Consistent with our thrust to empower our citizens, we urge vigilance in protecting personal data, whether online or offline, especially in activities that require the disclosure of names, numbers, and other information that could divulge our identities,” he added.

Naga said the NPC will inform stakeholders of further developments related to the issue.—LDF, GMA News