The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) warns the public about the increasing threat posed by spoofed SMS, urging mobile phone users to exercise heightened vigilance to combat this sophisticated scam.

Spoofing is a technique where fraudsters impersonate SMS channels to deceive recipients. The practice has seen a marked rise, especially in Metro Manila, with the strict implementation of SIM registration last year to combat SMS fraud.

For instance, customers have reported incidents in which messages, imitating sender IDs of telcos and banks, entice them with fraudulent links to redeem non-existent rewards, including mobile devices. Those who fall for spoofed SMS and engage with senders may unwittingly give away personal and sensitive information, giving fraudsters access to their online accounts such as social media profiles, e-wallet and banking accounts.

Telcos, banks and financial institutions have taken proactive steps against spoofing, issuing public warnings and collaborating with partners and law enforcement agencies to apprehend the scammers.

"Spoofing is a form of cybercrime that is increasingly difficult to detect. We’re urging everyone to be extra cautious with any SMS that asks for personal information or prompts to click on a link. Verify the authenticity of such messages by contacting the official customer service channels,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, PCTO President and Globe General Counsel.