NTC Strengthens Campaign VS Text Scams

Iloilo City (PNA) -– The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is asking the media to help strengthen the information dissemination and campaign against text scams.

Engr. Nestor Antonio P. Monroy, Regional Director of NTC-6, said during a press conference here Tuesday there is a need to inform the public on how to avoid falling victim to such schemes.

NTC has identified the three types of text scam: “panalo sa raffle”, “kamag−anak/kaibigan paload”, and “pasa/nakaw−load”.

In Panalo sa Raffle, the scammer will send a message that the number had won in a raffle promo and will ask to call or text the sender.

In Kamag−anak/Kaibigan paload, the scammer is pretending to be a relative and asking to be sent load.

In Pasa/Nakaw load, the scammer tells the text receiver to send a two-digit number to a mobile number to avail of discounts, refund, or prizes.

The NTC strongly warns the public against replying to any of these text messages so as not to be a victim and to stop the scam.

“Honestly, because we don’t have a SIM card registration, it is difficult for us to identify the sender,” said Monroy.

This is also the reason telecommunications companies made the load confirmation prompt that sends confirmation message to the mobile number when sharing a load.

It gives people chance to think twice before validating the “pasaload”.

Meanwhile, to resolve this issue, the NTC is pushing to pass the law on Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration.

Through the SIM card registration, NTC can easily identify the SIM card owner, and expect to minimize the fraud in text matters.

For the mean time, NTC is encouraging the public to support House Bill 5231 on SIM card registration.

Atty. Leonard A. Griῆo, legal officer of NTC, said that the most suitable case for text scam would be estafa as it covers fraudulent means and false transactions.

Anyone who receives fraudulent text messages may report it to the cybercrime division, police precinct and NTC.

NTC likewise urges the public to report to them lost and stolen cellphones for these to be blocked.

The public can also send complaints to Globe at 730−1000, Smart at 888−1111, and Sun at 639−800. (PNA) LAP/AJP/MARY ROSE H. ESTACIO-WVSU OJT/CBF