The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), in partnership with Globe Telecom, is alerting the public ahead of the Christmas season about a new phishing scam that compromises users’ personal and financial data.
CICC executive director Alexander K. Ramos said the agency has discovered short message service (SMS) or text messages targeting Globe subscribers, claiming their rewards points are about to expire. The messages encourage recipients to click a link to redeem their points.
“This scheme is alarming as it bypasses a National Telecommunications Commission memorandum that blocks clickable URLs in SMS,” said Ramos. He emphasized the need for continued cooperation in fighting SMS-based phishing.
CICC investigators traced the fraudulent domain to Bucharest, Romania, and found it was created on 27 November 2024. The fake site mimics Globe’s rewards page and prompts users to fill in a shipping address form. The form then redirects users to a payment page asking for credit card details under the guise of covering an “extra payment” for the reward.
This scam aims to steal both personal and financial information, potentially leading to identity theft and unauthorized transactions. The CICC urges Globe users to be cautious and report suspicious messages to authorities.
