The PLDT-led carrier blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages in the first quarter alone while blacklisting nearly 200,000 mobile numbers tied to fraudulent activity, underscoring the growing scale of mobile-enabled cybercrime in the country.
“Scammers are exploiting devices that imitate legitimate cell towers to send fraudulent messages directly to nearby phones,” said Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr., PLDT chief operating officer and head of network.
The shift marks a growing challenge for telecom operators because rogue devices known as IMSI catchers can transmit phishing messages directly to nearby handsets without passing through the telco’s regular messaging systems.
That allows scammers to sidestep many of the filters and protections carriers previously relied on to curb spam and fraudulent texts.
“This is why we continue to strengthen our network defenses while working closely with government partners to help protect our customers,” Jimenez added.
PLDT and Smart warned consumers to watch for sudden network downgrades from 5G to older technologies such as 2G before suspicious messages arrive, which could signal the presence of fake cell towers nearby.
The company said scammers often create panic by claiming accounts will be suspended, rewards points are expiring or access credentials are about to be revoked.
Others lure users with fake prizes, limited-time deals and malicious links designed to steal passwords, financial data and personal information.
The threat comes as digital fraud cases continue to rise alongside growing mobile and e-wallet usage in the Philippines, forcing telecom firms and regulators to intensify anti-scam campaigns.
“Protecting Filipinos from online scams requires strong collaboration across government, industry and the public,” Jimenez said.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
