Globe Telecom Inc. yesterday warned customers against the rising number of spam and scam messages using over-the-top (OTT) media services, which are outside the scope of telco filters.
In a statement, Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer, said these scammers are capitalizing on the increasing shift to a more digital lifestyle and he advised consumers to be more proactive.
“Embracing the digital world comes with its own set of risks, so we must remain vigilant in safeguarding our online presence. As technology advances, so do the tactics of fraudsters and scammers. The best way to combat this is to never engage with these messages and to block such senders immediately,” Bonifacio said.
While spam and scam messages have seen a decline since the SIM Registration Act was enforced, fraudsters continue to find new ways to target phishing victims, taking advantage of popular OTT platforms such as chat apps to evade telco filters.
These fraudsters use both overseas and local numbers and mostly appear as business accounts with attractive profile photos to dupe people.
In their latest modus operandi, cyber criminals use the target’s full name and pretend to be messaging a missed connection or making various offers. Their strategy is to create a sense of familiarity and trust in an attempt to start a conversation.
Bonifacio stressed awareness remains to be the first line of defense of customers.
“By staying informed and adopting personal security measures, we can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and protect ourselves from evolving cyber threats,” he added.
Globe, meanwhile, said it continues to block unwanted short messaging service, including app-to-person and person-to-person text messages from international and domestic sources, through a 24/7 Security Operations Center.
The company blocked close to 1.1 billion scam and spam messages in the first quarter of the year, a five-fold jump from the 217.31 million unwanted and unsolicited messages blocked in the same quarter last year.
