Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has raised concerns over the rising use of fake cell towers by criminals to send fraudulent text messages this holiday season. These fake towers mimic legitimate network infrastructure, enabling scammers to send messages directly to customers within a specific area, bypassing regular network defenses.
Many of these messages aim to alarm recipients, tricking them into clicking malicious links. These links often lead to phishing websites designed to steal personal information. Scammers also disguise sender names or numbers to appear as legitimate sources, recently exploiting fears of SIM deactivation by urging users to re-register their numbers.
“We remind our customers that there is no need to register their Smart or TNT SIM if they have already done so,” said Atty. Roy Ibay, VP and Head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart. “If you receive a text message with a URL or clickable web link, that should be a red flag because telecom providers are not allowed to send out messages containing these links.”
Smart is working with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to combat these scams. Their joint efforts include investigating and prosecuting those behind these schemes.
The company urges subscribers to report suspicious messages through its HuliScam portal. Users can provide details like the sender’s number, the content of the message, and the date and location where the message was received. Once verified, Smart promptly blocks the fraudulent SIM numbers.
Subscribers can also report scams via Smart’s official social media pages or by calling hotline *888.
Smart reminds customers to stay vigilant, especially during the holiday season, and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages to protect their personal information.