Smart Communications, Inc. announced having blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages and blacklisted nearly 200,000 numbers linked to fraud in the first three months of 2026, marking a major move to protect users from rising mobile-based crimes.
PLDT chief operating officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. noted that criminals now use devices called IMSI catchers—fake cell towers that mimic legitimate networks—to send fraudulent texts directly to nearby phones, sometimes causing a sudden drop from 5G to older signals like 2G. To counter this, Smart and its brand TNT have launched awareness videos and teamed up with government agencies to strengthen network defenses.
Jimenez emphasized that beating scams needs teamwork among authorities, telecom firms, and the public. Common red flags include messages pressing for urgent action, promising prizes, or asking for personal details.
Customers are advised not to click unknown links and to report suspicious messages via Smart’s HULISCAM portal (https://smart.com.ph/huliscam), official social media pages, or hotline *888.
