DIGITAL solutions platform Globe Telecoms said they were able to block a record-high 2.72 billion scam and spam messages in 2022. This is more than double the 2021 total of 1.15 BILLION, reflecting the impact of its steppedup campaign against malicious SMS.

As a result of its intensified crackdown against fraudsters, Globe said they also blocked 83.4 million bankrelated spam messages last year.

Globe has partnered with all major commercial banks and online retailers in the country to ensure quick and efficient information exchange for a more efficient response to spam and fraud SMS.

Blocking spam and scam messages continues to be a crucial component of Globe’s cybersecurity strategy, and it has managed to spare customers from dangerous and disruptive SMS before the enforcement of the SIM Registration Act.

“Our customers are our top priority so we do our best to ensure that they are protected from scammers and fraudsters. We will continue to invest in cybersecurity systems and work tirelessly to provide them with a safe and enjoyable online experience as we also take part in the full implementation of the SIM Registration Act,” Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer, said.

“With our relentless proactive blocking efforts and implementation of the new law, we are taking great strides in our campaign to end text fraud,” he added.

Globe has spent about $20 million to step up its spam and scam SMS detection and blocking system. They added that their round-theclock Security Operations Center filters out these unwanted messages, including app-to-person and person-to-person SMS of international and domestic sources.

In an industry first, Globe also started blocking person-to-person SMS with clickable URLs from all networks in September last year amid growing concern over escalating scam and spam messages, particularly those containing mobile users’ full names.

In just two weeks after enforcing its unprecedented measure, Globe blocked over 32.2 million scam and spam text messages with clickable links, or an average of 2.4 million SMS daily from September 28 to Oct. 13, 2022.

Because of rising SMS-related crimes, the government enacted Republic Act 11934, or the “SIM Registration Act” last year to address the problem. The law requires individuals to register their SIM and present a valid identification document to their respective service providers.

Aside from investing in tools to proactively detect suspicious content on the internet to protect its customers from online attacks, Globe has deployed fraud and security chatbots to assist employees with privacy and cy ber security related concerns.

It also regularly provides customers with relevant information via social media advisories about fraud, cybersecurity and data privacy to boost awareness and help them protect themselves against these threats.