Telecommunications companies Smart and Globe lauded the arrest of a Malaysian national accused of supplying International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers used in text scams.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) raised concerns about criminals using fake cell towers to bypass cybersecurity measures set by telecom operators. These illegal devices, which imitate actual cell towers, trick mobile phones into connecting to them. This allows scammers to send harmful messages directly to users. These messages often include a link that leads to phishing websites designed to steal personal information.
“Fake cell towers bypass the network infrastructure of telco companies,” said Atty. Roy Ibay, VP and head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart and Private Sector Board Member of the CICC. “These illegal devices can send scam texts directly to mobile users. They also have the capability to mask sender identification to make phishing messages appear as if they were sent by legitimate companies like mobile network operators or banks.”
Globe also welcomed the arrest, calling it a step forward in fighting spoofing. This fraud scheme uses IMSI catchers to send fraudulent messages that appear to come from trusted sources, such as Globe’s official sender ID. Customers have reported receiving fake messages about rewards claims and other unauthorized offers.
Globe explained that addressing text scams using IMSI catchers has been difficult since these messages bypass the telco networks. These portable devices act as fake cell towers, allowing fraudsters to send harmful texts to nearby SIM cards.
By the end of last year, Smart blocked 2 billion scam messages and launched various campaigns to educate its subscribers. Globe also reported a fourfold increase in blocked fraud-linked SIMs in 2023.
Both companies pledged to continue collaborating with the government and other groups to reduce the risks of scam messages.