PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. have intensified efforts to ensure the integrity of the registration of new subscriber identity modules (SIM) to protect their customers against scams.
In a statement, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. said they have engaged their regional and provincial distributors and local dealers to ensure security and integrity in the sale and distribution process of Smart SIMs.
PLDT and Smart said they are upgrading their cybersecurity tools to prevent customers from receiving fraudulent text messages.
The PLDT Group’s cybersecurity infrastructure has enabled it to block more than 500 million SMShing messages in the first five months of the year. In May alone, Smart has also blacklisted more than 100,000 mobile numbers tied to illicit activities from its network.
The PLDT Group said it has also engaged its over 14,000-strong workforce across the country to help fight SMShing-based crimes. It recently launched “Watchdog,” an intuitive cybersecurity tool where employees can send screenshots and other details of SMShing messages.
PLDT and Smart are also improving reporting mechanisms to make it easier for customers to report text scams and similar fraudulent schemes.
In a separate statement, Globe said it has been at the forefront of efforts to strictly implement and comply with the SIM Registration Act, ensuring that all SIMs currently in use are registered.
Under its current system, a new SIM is only activated once registered through Globe’s SIM registration platforms.
“We designed our SIM Registration system in such a way that no SIM can be used on the network unless registered. Therefore, all active SIMs within our network are in our system. Even as we continue to enhance our SIM registration platform, we already have measures in place that defend against the illegal use of unregistered SIMs,” said Darius Delgado, head of consumer mobile business at Globe.
Globe currently has 58.8 million mobile subscribers.
Following the SIM registration period from Dec. 27, 2022, to July 30, 2023, which covered SIMs already in use before the passage of the law, Globe deactivated over 30 million unregistered SIMs.
Since then, Globe said it has strengthened security measures for SIM registration to ensure the integrity of the registration process for new SIMs.
These include advanced encryption protocols to secure data transmitted during the registration process, live photo capture technology to prevent the use of stock or pre-existing photos, and limited ID submission retries to prevent random or repeated attempts to register with fictitious documents.
