Globe blocks 1.1B spam and fraud messages in Q1 of 2023

Globe has blocked almost 1.1 billion scam and spam messages in the first quarter of 2023 to support the government’s efforts against online fraud reinforced by the SIM Registration Act.

With the push for SIM card registration and their campaign against scammers, Globe has pushed a five-fold jump to block unwanted and unsolicited messages from 217.31 million recorded back in the first quarter of last year.

From January to March 2023, Globe’s Stop Spam portal has a total of 22,455 of blacklisted SIMs compared to 1,812 in the same period last year. Globe has also deactivated 647 SIMs, where 610 were involved in sending scam or fraud messages, while the remaining 37 were used in sending spam texts.

This portal allows customers to report mobile numbers for spam or scam messages and calls with ease. Subscribers only need to upload screenshots of the messages and enter the necessary information, such as the sender’s number or caller ID, the recipient’s number, and any questionable links they may have received.

In the course of a stepped-up fight against fraudsters, Globe blocked a record 2.72 billion spam and scam messages in 2018, more than double the 1.15 billion blocks made in 2021. Additionally, it blacklisted 35,333 SIMs and disabled 20,225 SIMs.

“At our core, we remain committed to providing a secure digital experience for our customers. Aside from our various consumer protection initiatives, we are continuously investing in advanced spam detection and blocking systems to protect our subscribers from unwanted and unsolicited messages,” according to Globe Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio.

Globe has invested $20PHP 1,174INR 1,695EUR 19CNY 146 million in its Security Operations Center, which operates around-the-clock to block undesirable communications from domestic and foreign sources, including app-to-person and person-to-person SMS.

In September 2022, Globe began restricting SMS with clickable URLs as an industry first in response to growing concern about the rise of scam and spam messages, especially those containing the entire names of mobile customers.

Globe urges its customers to register their SIMs on or before the deadline of April 26 set forth by the government under the SIM Registration Act in order to further prevent them from becoming victims of dishonest businesses and people.

Globe SIMs may be registered via their website and the GlobeOne app. Globe has also made on-ground SIM Registration Assistance available in its stores, EasyHubs and booths in remote areas.