Smart Communications Inc. said Wednesday it blocked over 13 million spam text messages in the first quarter of 2024.
The company said it also blacklisted almost 200,000 mobile numbers involved in phishing activities as the Philippine National Police (PNP) raised the alarm on “hijack profile” cases.
“Data is the new oil. Cyber criminals steal personal information to defraud you or use your identity to victimize people close to you. Guard your data. Don’t share it with people you don’t know,” said Joseph Ian Gendrano, senior vice president and chief Information security officer at PLDT and Smart.
‘Hijack profile’ happens when a hacker gains unauthorized access to someone’s social media account. In some cases, the victims are locked out of their own account. The offender then messages the victims’ contacts to ask for money, usually under the guise of a sickness or an unfortunate life event. Smart reminded the public to be wary of clicking dubious links on SMS or emails from unknown persons.