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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Scammers exploit 'money mules' as SIM registration deadline nears – DICT

Scammers exploit 'money mules' as SIM registration deadline nears – DICT

Published Jun 23, 2023 04:31 pm
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy warned the public on Friday, June 23, about scammers using money mules --- helping criminals to hide money --- as the deadline for the subscriber identity module (SIM) registration nears. 
DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy (Photo courtesy of PCO)
Since the registration for SIM cards is approaching its deadline on July 25, Uy, in his speech in Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on "Keeping Cyber Safe" said that the cyber culprits buy others' identification as money mules.  READ: [https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/16/sim-registration-reaches-99-2-m-ntc](https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/16/sim-registration-reaches-99-2-m-ntc) "Today yun ang method nila (today, those are their methods), they are using money mules, and these money mules are just selling their identity to the scammers," Uy said. “Magre-rehistro sila ng kanilang sim card. Tunay sila, tunay na tao, picture lahat, pagka rehistro nila dyan, ibebenta nila ngayon isang libo, easy money sa kanila especially people who lived in the squatters, (They [money mules' victims] will register their SIM card as real users including pictures, then they will sell it worth P1,000. It is an easy money for them especially people who live in squatter areas),” Uy added.

E-Gov app avoids online fraud

 The DICT Secretary mentioned cases where hackers' capability to spoof government agency websites.  “Ang iba dyan, ini-spoof yung website ng ahensya, gagawing parehong pareho yung website na iiba lang yung letra. So, yung mga tao, pag pumunta sa website, pag ka click akala nila, doon sa ahensya pumupunta, yun pala ano, fini-feast na yung mga account nila at mga passwords nila (others can spoof agencies’ websites, were they make an exact replica, except from some letters. So, if people visited the website, online criminals may access victim’s accounts and their passwords)," Uy stated.  Given this, Uy encouraged the public to use the E-Gov app, which associates all government agencies' systems, to redirect users toward legit government websites. 

International partnership strengths cyber security

 Uy mentioned the collaboration of DICT in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), "joining forces with bilateral counterparts like Singapore, Estonia, Japan, United States, and many other countries." He also stressed the importance of enhancing the workforce's skills behind the improved technology for cyber securities. "So, you can have the best of the world cyber security software or protection, but if your people are not properly trained on how to handle it, then it is as if we don't have security at all," Uy pointed out, as he mentioned the "three million vacancies" in the world for cyber security professionals. The DICT secretary also mentioned the "E-Government Bill" currently in the Senate.  "One of the things I'm pushing for that E-Government Bill is an enhancement of the salary, not just of DICT personnel but all ICT personnel across all government," Uy said. 

*(Sonny Daanoy)

*

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DICT SEC IVAN JOHN UY DICT
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