Telcos ordered to shut down websites, QR codes linked to fraud
SCAM TARGET | Mobile phone users have been advised to be paranoid in dealing with text messages from unknown senders who may be stealing sensitive information by offering nonexistent job opportunities via SMS. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered telecommunications companies to deactivate websites and QR (quick response) codes linked to fraudulent activities amid the surge in text scams.
The directive came after the regulator released multiple orders instructing Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communications Inc. and DITO Telecommunity Corp. to warn their subscribers about the proliferation of such scams through text blasts.
“Telcos are hereby ordered to block or deactivate domains or uniform resource locators (URLs), TinyURLs, Smart Links and/or QR Codes emanating from malicious sites…,” NTC said in a memorandum dated Sept. 12.
Database
The sites were based on a database obtained from the NTC, National Privacy Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, law enforcement agencies, subscriber reports and those generated from machine learning or artificial intelligence, the regulator explained.
The telco players were instructed to submit a written compliance report on or before Sept. 16.
These malicious sites are usually used by hackers for phishing activities.
Phishing is a fraudulent activity wherein scammers trick users into giving out their personal and sensitive information usually in the form of suspicious emails, mobile messages, and links. Having access to such data will allow scammers to take over or use without permission the victims’ bank account.
Individuals are being advised not to click on those links to protect themselves from potential financial losses.
Edgardo Cabarios, NTC Special Adviser to the Commissioner, told reporters on Tuesday that passing the SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration measure would help curb the text scams.
Blocking spree
With text scams on the rise, the House information and communications technology committee approved the bill, which is seen to address such fraudulent activities. This measure, to recall, was vetoed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in April, citing the need for further review.
From January to July, Globe blocked some 784 million scam and spam messages. It also deactivated 14,058 mobile numbers and blacklisted 8,973 mobile numbers linked to phishing during the same period.
PLDT and Smart blocked nearly 78,000 SIM cards that were found to be connected to fraudulent activity from January to May. From Jan. 11 to 14, they foiled over 23 million texts linked to phishing sites, much more than the 600,000 text scams it detected from January to May.
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