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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Why are there text scams despite SIM registration law? Gatchalian wants to know

Why are there text scams despite SIM registration law? Gatchalian wants to know

Published Mar 15, 2025 09:02 am

At A Glance

  • ​Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian is seeking an investigation into text scams that continue to proliferate despite the implementation of the SIM registration law.

​Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian is seeking an investigation into text scams that continue to proliferate despite the implementation of the SIM registration law.

​Gatchalian filed ​House Resolution (HR) No. 1324 ​t​o conduct an inquiry into ​text scams ​that continue to be a problem in the country, with an estimated 600,000 people falling prey to such crimes in 2024 alone​.

​Meanwhile, recent proposals were also raised to require SIM card owners to be physically present during ​the registration​ process.

​However, Gatchalian believed, the proposal ​"would be inconvenient for consumers, as it would require them to register in person, similar to the process of applying for a driver's license or an NBI clearance​".

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ​also admitted that scammers are employing new tactics​.

​These include text hijacking devices or counterfeit cell sites, also known as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers.

These allow the scammers to mimic legitimate cell towers, send fraudulent SMS, and deceive mobile users.

​"Given the crucial role of technology in nation-building, it is essential to strengthen cybersecurity and verification measures and implement additional safeguards to combat the continuous proliferation of text scams in the country,​" Gatchalian said.

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