Leading digital solutions platform Globe warns the public against unscrupulous groups and individuals who are taking advantage of the SIM registration law to scam people.
“We have received reports that there are groups and individuals taking advantage of the new law by sending misleading text messages to unsuspecting mobile phone users. We would like to remind our customers to ignore these messages and report them to our Stop Spam website,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.
Bonifacio said text messages informing users that their SIMs have been deactivated are just a ploy to get their personal information and hard-earned money. The SIM Registration law has yet to take full effect as its implementing rules and regulations are still being finalized.
Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, was signed into law on October 10, 2022, and aims to provide accountability for those using SIM cards and aid law enforcement in tracking perpetrators of crimes committed through mobile phones.
The move is expected to boost government initiatives against fraud perpetrated through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent in recent years.
Under the law, users can only activate their new SIMs by registering with their provider. Existing subscribers, meanwhile, must register within 180 days from the start of the law’s implementation or risk having their SIM deactivated.
Latest data show that Globe blocked more than 32.2 million scam and spam text messages in just two weeks after implementing measures to block uniform resource locators (URLs) in person-to-person text messages.
From September 28 to October 13 this year, it blocked about 2.4 million SMS with clickable links daily. From January to September 2022, meanwhile, it blocked 1.3 billion spam and scam messages, already exceeding the 2021 full-year total of 1.1 billion.
To date, Globe has spent P1.1 billion on a system that detects and blocks spam and scam SMS. Its 24/7 Security Operations Center filters unwanted messages, including app-to-person and person-to-person SMS of international and domestic sources.
All Globe and TM customers will be duly informed once the IRR is in place, but in the meantime, the company encourages its customers using Android devices to install spam filters on their phones. Learn how through this instructional video.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.