Smart Communications Inc. said Thursday it is investing in an advanced blocking system to fight online fraudsters.
Smart, in a report to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), reiterated its compliance to the SIM Registration law, having incorporated the necessary enhancements and verification mechanisms that its regulators the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had required all telcos to implement on Dec. 18, 2023.
Smart also informed CICC about its SMS blocking efforts that resulted in the blocking of a significant number of fraudulent SMS messages and mobile numbers.
Smart said it blacklisted more than 615,788 mobile numbers tied to illicit and fraudulent activities, including spamming and SMShing scams in the first six months of 2024.
This number includes fraudulently registered SIMs, purged through Smart’s strict validation process of all SIM registrations.
Smart also assured CICC through its report that it is investing significantly and continuously improving its SMS blocking systems, as the landscape of messaging scams constantly evolves.
It is also actively engaging its provincial distributors, regional dealers and other trade partners to ensure the security and integrity of the sale and distribution process of Smart SIMs.
“We remain committed to safeguarding our customers and ensuring the integrity of our services,” Smart vice president and head of regulatory affairs Roy Ibay said.
“We will continue to invest in advanced technologies and collaborate with industry partners and regulatory bodies to protect our users from fraudulent activities,” he said.