The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) has raised concerns over a new wave of scam messages targeting mobile users through non-telco networks.
The group also urged collaboration among industry players, government agencies, and stakeholders to combat these emerging fraud methods.
“This new wave of scam messages is worrisome as fraudsters have resorted to methods that do not pass through telco networks, thus they are able to evade our already robust filters,” Froilan Castelo, PCTO president and Globe Telecom general counsel, said in a statement.
“Industry players and key stakeholders must work closely together to combat this trend. Let’s focus on finding ways to defeat our common enemy: scammers,” he added.
Operators earlier implemented strict security measures, including blocking text messages with links, but scammers are now using chat apps, Rich Communication Services, and fake cell tower devices to bypass safeguards.
