Globe Telecom on Wednesday renewed its warning to the public about the rising threat of SMS spoofing, a deceptive tactic increasingly employed by fraudsters in recent months.
This form of cybercrime involves scammers impersonating legitimate organizations, including Globe, to exploit customer trust.
The resurgence of SMS spoofing comes despite the implementation of SIM registration last year, which was aimed at reducing SMS fraud. Fraudulent messages that appear to come from Globe’s official sender ID have been reported, often enticing recipients with fake claims about account issues or directing them to malicious links.
These messages are designed to steal personal information, potentially granting scammers access to online accounts, including social media, e-wallets, and banking profiles.
In response to this growing threat, Globe has taken several proactive measures. The company is actively collaborating with industry partners and law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible for spoofing. Additionally, Globe is investing in advanced security technologies to detect and block these fraudulent messages.
Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer, emphasized the difficulty in detecting spoofing and urged customers to remain vigilant.
“Spoofing is a form of cybercrime that is becoming increasingly difficult to detect. We urge everyone to be extra cautious with any SMS that asks for personal information or prompts to click on a link. Globe will never send a clickable link in its official customer advisories,” Bonifacio said.
Globally, SMS spoofing is facilitated by illegal devices such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, which can intercept mobile communications and allow fraudsters to send spoofed messages that bypass traditional network spam filters.
Globe encourages the public to report any suspicious messages to its customer service channels and offers the following best practices for digital security:
- Never click on links from unknown sources.
- Never share personal information via SMS.
- Regularly update knowledge on the latest scam tactics.
- Be wary of unsolicited messages that offer deals that seem too good to be true.
- Turn on spam filters on mobile devices, if available.
By raising awareness and promoting collective vigilance, Globe aims to protect its customers and the public from these harmful practices. For further information and updates on Globe’s anti-spoofing efforts, customers can visit the company’s official website or Facebook page.
