State-run National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has directed the three mobile telecom operators to block the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards that are being used to proliferate the latest variant of text scam that includes the name of the recipient.
The proliferation of fake job texts, lucky winners and similar money scams targeting the general public has persisted in August across telecom networks in the country with the latest variant including the name of its recipient, the NTC said.
Gamaliel Cordoba, NTC commissioner, has issued a memorandum dated August 26 directing Dito Telecommunity Corp., Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc. wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. to accelerate the process of blocking SIM cards that are being utilized to perpetrate these fraudulent activities and further enhance the messaging of their public information campaigns to factor in the new variants of the scams.
NTC also requested the telcos to send a text blast to their subscribers until September 6 to warn them to be aware of the new variant of text scam.
Cordoba also alerted all the NTC regional directors and officers-in-charge to the new variant of fake job and other text scams.
“In the interest of the service, you are once more directed to appear before local radio and television stations within your respective jurisdiction to warn the public against the continuing text scams from August 31 to September 6, 2022, and to continue your respective local public information campaigns to educate the public on these scams,” the NTC memorandum read.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. appointed a senior cybersecurity adviser of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to head the agency’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.
Angeles, in a virtual briefing, announced the appointments of Alexander Ramos as CICC Executive Director V; Mary Rose Magsaysay as Deputy Executive Director V; and Patricia May Abejo, RojunHosillos and Alvin Miro Navarro as Directors IV.
The task of the CICC, an attached agency of the DICT, is to monitor cybercrime cases handled by law enforcement and prosecution agencies.
It also facilitates international cooperation on intelligence, investigation, training and capacity-building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression and prosecution; and recommends the enactment of appropriate laws, issuances, measures and policies pursuant to its mandate.
The CICC website already carries the names and photos of the five officials but no official profile about them is available.
Data from website LinkedIn Corp. said Ramos, prior to joining CICC, has served as senior cybersecurity adviser of DICT since November 2019.
He was a former consultant on IT and computer forensics of the Diaz Murillo Dalupan and Company certified public accountants and former director for infrastructure development of Tech Solutions Inc.
LinkedIn said Magsaysay has been with the CICC since 2021 under its Cybercrime Plans, Policy, Monitoring and Coordination Office.
She is a former member of the board of trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, a former consultant for financial technology of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and a former undersecretary at the Department of Energy.
Navarro, according to the DICT website, was a former assistant secretary at the DICT, while Abejo was formerly with the Knowledge Management and Information Service of the Department of Trade and Industry based on the agency’s website.
LinkedIn said Hosillos has been a special investigator of the National Bureau of Investigation since 2004. –with Jocelyn Montemayor
