Smart strengthens shield vs fraud, text scams
PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. has deployed a new network firewall to beef up its anti-fraud measures and block text scams and spam messages.
In a recent statement, the Pangilinan-led telco player said that it had migrated the bulk of the system handling the SMS (short message service) traffic into the new platform last July.
“The new firewall blocks malicious text messages from being sent using the network. This also covers the full cycle of blocking [text scams], from both the sending and receiving ends,” PLDT and Smart chief information security officer Jojo Gendrano said.
Smart explained the new tool compliments its existing solution that prevents customers from receiving malicious mobile messages.
The cybersecurity solution can block as many as 30 million malicious text messages daily.
From January to July, the telco giant blocked over a billion spam messages from reaching its customers. It also blocked some 770,000 mobile numbers found to be engaged in fraudulent activities.
The PLDT group, in addition, blocked over 20 billion attempts to open malicious websites in June alone.
Prior to the new firewall, Smart said it had implemented other measures to prevent fraudulent activities that have remained persistent despite the SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration, which was mandated to curb the proliferation of text scams.
The telco player said it had rolled out better verification schemes for SIM card listup, including the use of live selfie and liveness checks, disabling of the upload of stock selfies and integration of facial recognition, among others.
PLDT is also collaborating with the government’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Telecommunications Commission in strengthening measures against fraud.
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators recently renewed its warning against the surge of text scams as hackers are finding ways to circumvent the cybersecurity measures placed by telco players.
For one, cybercriminals are using over-the-top platforms or chat applications like Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, Viber and Telegram when sending their messages embedded with suspicious links.
Through these messaging apps, cybercriminals are making various fake offers, like job opportunities and investments, with the goal of securing the trust of unsuspecting victims.
In doing so, the users might give out personal information such as contact number, address and bank account details. Taking a hold of such data enables hackers to illegally take over their personal accounts, including e-wallets.
