PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. yesterday urged the public to remain vigilant against online fraud.
“Social engineering remains the most common tactic used by criminals to lure customers into giving up vital information. There is no silver bullet to fighting cybercrime. We strongly urge our customers to adopt a cybersecurity mindset to avoid falling prey to scams and fraud,” said Angel Redoble, PLDT and Smart chief information security officer.
Phishing attacks, considered the most popular form of social engineering, target vulnerable mobile users, PLDT noted.
Often posing as legitimate companies or organizations, criminals send out click-bait messages or place calls that tempt customers into revealing their personal data. Phishing can be done over text messages or SMShing and voice calls or vishing.
To keep customers aware of these threats, PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) shares CyberSmart tips in spotting red flags that can be easily remembered by the acronym SCAM.
First, sender is unknown. CSOG advises not answer calls of open emails from an unknown sender Scammers often use regular numbers contrary to custom sender IDs used by private companies. They may also contact unsuspecting users through online messaging platforms.
C, or compelling reason to act immediately is another red flag. Phishing messages often rush you to click on the link to avail of the special promo or limited offer, the CSOG added.
Attention grabbing offers. Scammers often promise financial rewards or too-good-to-be-true promos to bait potential victims.
Malicious link. Whether sent via SMS or email, these messages are often accompanied by a link that leads to a phishing website.
Smart said since it intensified efforts against criminal activities facilitated over wireless services, it has seen a seven-fold jump in monthly blocked SIMs to more than 35,000 as of July 2023 from under 5,000 in 2020.
In July alone, it blocked more than seven million phishing messages.
