Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — In an effort to strengthen its campaign against text scams, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a memorandum directing telecommunication companies to warn their subscribers through SMS against various text scams.
The text blasts from telcos started on Tuesday (September 8) and will end on the 22nd.
Telcos were also ordered to produce 30-second and 15-second infomercials or information commercials to educate and warn its subscribers.
According to NTC, the agency has received over 6,500 complaints on text scams since 2011.
With currently about 110 million prepaid subscribers nationwide, NTC saw the need to intensify information drive, calling on the public to be vigilant against these deceitful schemes.
“Kung walang maniniwala, hindi sila [scammers] kikita at hihinto sila. Hangga’t may kumakagat sa kanilang panloloko, magtutuloy iyan,” said NTC Director Engr. Edgardo Cabarios.
[Translation: “If nobody is buying into their schemes, scammers would eventually stop. But as long as they can pull a fast one, they would continue.”]
In the long run, Cabarios hopes that SIM card registration would eventually put a stop to text scams as senders will be properly identified.
He also hopes that Congress will pass the SIM registration bill before a new president is elected next year.
