Telco Smart Communications Inc. reminded its subscribers to be vigilant over the sudden increase of recent spam text messages recently and shared tips on what to do once they encounter one.
Smart on Saturday advised its users to take note of the following in such cases:
- Do not entertain questions or surveys from unknown senders
- Never provide personal information to strangers
- Use your text messaging app’s built-in blocking feature
- Report incidents to the NTC via https://ntc.gov.ph/complaint
The NTC is the National Telecommunications Commission, an agency tasked to regulate the installation, operation and maintenance of radio stations both for private and public use.
A Twitter user also suggested calling the network’s landline at *888 and messaging its official customer support Twitter account.
He also shared tips on how Globe Telecom subscribers can report spam text messages as well.
Users only need to share a screenshot of the full message that contains the number and its timestamp. They will then provide the spammer’s number and then send it to the network’s #StopSCAM webpage.
Last week, the National Privacy Commission said it is already looking at reports of text messages aiming to recruit people with sketchy job offers.
It stated, however, that there is still “no sufficient information” to link it to the supposed breach of contact tracing forms or apps that have risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of contact tracing measures, people entering establishments are required to subject their contact details for tracing purposes should someone they have interacted with have contracted the virus.
The commission added that they are also conducting “privacy sweeps” to check compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 likewise prohibits the advertisement, selling or offering of products and services through the use of a computer system unless it fulfills certain conditions, such as the consent of the recipient.
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