Senate probe into gambling-related text scams urged

Senator Joel Villanueva has urged the Senate to investigate the "unprecedented number" of gambling-related text scams and the use, sale and importation of cell site simulators to send fraudulent text messages.

The lawmaker on Thursday filed proposed Senate Resolution 1057 as he noted the significant number of SIM cards recovered in the previous raids against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs.

Among the raids that he mentioned in the resolution are the June 2023 raid in a registered POGO based in Las Piñas where around 80,000 unregistered SIMS were recovered by the police officers; August 2023 raid in a POGO hub in Pasay City where about 28,000 registered and unregistered SIM cards were seized; and March 2024 raid in a POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac where assorted SIM cards and hundreds of cellular phones and digital devices were recovered.

Apart from this, Villanueva mentioned scammers increased use of simulators or stingrays or international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers which "spoof or mimic mobile numbers to deceive users into thinking that they are receiving legitimate text messages" and most of these text messages contain fake links that are used to extract information or money from users.

In filing the measure, Villanueva stressed the need for the government to review and determine whether the available mechanisms to address text scams are "efficient."

"Notwithstanding the reporting system established by the NTC and telecommunications entities, as well as the provisions and penalties imposed under the SIM Registration Act, text scams continue to proliferate, with some people receiving up to five text messages from scammers daily," Villanueva said.

The probe is also intended to ask the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other government agencies to look into the mode of acquisition of cellular phone numbers, including the possibility of reported data breach, the alleged sale of personal data, and the alarming use of illegal equipment to simulate numbers. — BM, GMA Integrated News