Globe Telecom on Sunday reported a 79 percent drop in blocked spam SMS messages in the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year.
During the quarter, Globe intercepted a total 235,998,731 spam SMS messages, sharply down from 1,104,502,921 messages blocked in the same quarter last year.
Thus far, Globe blocked spam SMS messages in 2024 have declined 35 percent from 362,773,894 messages blocked in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the year’s second quarter.
Further supporting this trend, the number of deactivated SIMs reported via Globe’s StopScam portal from April to June this year fell to 504 from 4,054 the previous year, marking an 88 percent decrease.
Between the first and second quarters of 2024, the drop was 40 percent, with the first three months of 2024 recording 841 deactivated numbers. Deactivated numbers include SIMs within the Globe network.
“We have observed a consistent decline in spam SMS– those that pass through the cellular network– as we continue to implement stringent filtering systems, including blocking person-to-person SMS with links,” Anton Bonifacio, Globe’s chief information security officer and chief AI officer said.
“We reiterate our advice to our customers to remain vigilant and never engage with any unsolicited message they receive, whether via SMS or chat apps, particularly those with dubious offers,” he added.
While these figures demonstrate the effectiveness of Globe’s current spam filtering systems, they also highlight a change in scam tactics that evade cellular networks.
There is an increasing threat posed by spoofed SMS, a method that bypasses telecom networks’ spam filters, making detection and prevention particularly challenging.
Spoofing is a technique in which unscrupulous persons or groups impersonate SMS channels to lure unsuspecting victims into sharing personal information or clicking on malicious links, potentially leading to financial losses or compromised data security.
Spoofed SMS uses International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers or fake cell towers. These devices simulate cell towers to intercept mobile communications within a certain radius, compelling phones to connect and receive spoofed SMS messages directly. These messages do not pass through the cellular network, hence evading telco filters.
Fraudsters are also shifting to over the top media services or chat apps, Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats for Android users, and other Internet-based messaging platforms targeting users even while using foreign numbers or email addresses. These messages also do not pass through the cellular network.
“As we tighten our defenses against spam SMS, we are also aware that scammers are continuously evolving their methods. Globe is committed to staying ahead of these threats by enhancing our security protocols across all channels. Our goal is to protect our customers from fraud, ensuring their trust in our services remains unshaken,” said Bonifacio.
