With cybercriminals rapidly adapting their tactics to the increasingly difficult fight against cybercrimes, the importance of having robust cybersecurity measures has never been more pressing for businesses and individuals alike. Recent reports highlight a concerning rise in scams, specifically targeting Filipinos through more innovative methods that are able to bypass traditional security measures. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), around PHP 460 billion was scammed from Filipinos in the past year alone, with an alarming 85% of these scams conducted through SMS.
Given these concerning figures, cybersecurity experts, advocacy groups, and telecommunications providers are pushing for a more targeted focus on tackling cybercriminals head on.
From Policy to Action
While the Philippines’ SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) was intended to curb such scams, CitizenWatch Philippines argues that its implementation must now be strengthened to effectively disrupt cybercriminal activity. They have emphasized that more direct action is needed against scammers, rather than solely focusing on policy revisions. Lawmakers and cybersecurity advocates are increasingly calling on law enforcement, policy enforcers, and all relevant authorities to put more resources into actively pursuing and apprehending cybercriminals who continue to evade the law.
During the first quarter of 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a 21.8% rise in cybercrimes compared to the same period in 2023, even after the enactment of the SIM Registration Act. This trend indicates that legislation alone may not be sufficient to stem the tide of cybercrime. Senator Win Gatchalian echoed this sentiment, highlighting the urgency of treating cybersecurity as a national priority and urging all government bodies to close security gaps effectively.
Unclickable Links
Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, with recent reports from PLDT-Smart exposing a new scam strategy designed to bypass automatic SMS blocking tools. These scams involve “unclickable links” that mask a URL’s true destination by altering certain characters, such as replacing dots with underscores, to make them harder for spam filters to detect. Victims are then instructed to manually copy the link into their browser, re-entering the symbols correctly to activate the malicious link.
Such deceptive tactics highlight the need for vigilance among businesses and individuals alike, as scammers leverage every opportunity to evade detection systems. To counter this threat, PLDT-Smart has strengthened its blocking tools and expanded its #BeCyberSmart campaign, offering users guidance on how to spot and avoid SMS phishing or “SMShing” scams.
Tips for Protecting Against SMS Phishing Scams
So for both business owners and individual users, awareness and preventive measures are key to staying secure in the face of such evolving threats. Here are some tips to consider:
A Call to Action for All Stakeholders
The good news is that telecommunication providers, financial institutions, and advocacy groups are joining forces to combat cybercrime more effectively. Globe, for example, has collaborated with banks and other organizations to reduce bank-related scam messages, successfully blocking over 2.7 million scam SMSs in the first half of 2024 alone. These efforts showcase how strategic partnerships can help curb the spread of scams and protect end-users more comprehensively.
And so to better safeguard the public, it’s crucial for government agencies, telecom providers, and consumers to collaborate in identifying, reporting, and addressing cyber threats. By placing more resources into tracking and apprehending cybercriminals and strengthening cross-industry partnerships, the Philippines can more effectively combat the increasing wave of cybercrime and protect the digital safety of Filipinos.
