Globe, a digital solutions platform, blocked 2.2 billion scam and spam messages from January to June of this year, which is almost a four-fold increase from the 615.01 million logged in the same period last year. This figure closely approaches the 2022 full-year record of 2.72 billion blocked messages.

Unscrupulous individuals commonly use scam and spam text messages to gain access to or obtain personal information from unsuspecting mobile users. This access to sensitive information allows criminals to take control of online accounts, resulting in significant financial losses as they siphon money from victims’ banks or e-wallet accounts.

“Our significant investments in advanced filtering systems and our intensified campaign to block scam and spam messages are a testament to our promise of providing secure and reliable communication services to our customers,” said Anton Bonifacio, CISO at Globe.

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Globe has invested $20 million to bolster its spam and scam SMS detection and blocking system. The company’s Security Operations Center operates 24/7 to filter out these unwanted messages from both international and domestic sources. Customers can also report spam and scam SMS to Globe’s #StopSpam portal.

SIM registration

In response to the rising number of crimes and spam text messages, the government passed and implemented Republic Act No. 11934, also known as the SIM Registration Act, on Oct. 10, 2022. The law mandates individuals to register their SIM cards by submitting valid identification documents to telecommunications entities. The registration period ended on July 25 for SIM cards in use before the law was enacted. All new SIM cards must also be registered before they can be activated.

As the law goes into full effect and with a SIM database now in place, Globe hopes to see an eventual decline in the number of spam and scam messages sent out. The company calls on customers to remain vigilant, as fraudsters are known to devise new ways to carry out their criminal schemes.