Globe Telecom Inc. yesterday said it has blocked over a billion unsolicited messages and thousands of scammers’ mobile numbers in 2021, as it vowed to further boost customer protection amid increased activity online under the pandemic.
In a statement, Globe said it has blocked a total of 1.15 billion scam and spam messages, around 7,000 mobile numbers linked to scammers, and 2,000 unofficial social media accounts and phishing sites last year.
“Customer protection has always been a top priority for us. We are continuously strengthening our systems and processes to combat emerging security threats across the Globe Group of Companies while also pioneering better partnerships and coordination with the private sector as a whole. We know that we cannot do this alone,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer.
Globe invests in tools to proactively detect suspicious content on the internet to protect its employees and customers from online attacks. The telco said reporting tools and processes were also enabled for employees, customers and partners to immediately capture customer concerns on fraud and scams.
Likewise, fraud and security chatbots are in place to assist employees with privacy and cybersecurity-related concerns, Globe added. They provide a comprehensive archive of privacy and security terms and assessment guides, and respond to privacy and security requests.
Globe said another key initiative is the collaboration with all major commercial banks and online retailers in the country to ensure quick and efficient handling of spam and fraud. Partners are provided with a direct and round-the-clock communication channel to report malicious or fraudulent activities for immediate investigation and blocking.
The company said it continues to regularly provide customers with relevant information about fraud, cybersecurity and data privacy to boost awareness and help them protect themselves against these threats.
Social media advisories are released periodically to warn customers about the latest scams, it added.
