PLDT and Smart Communications ramp up efforts to combat scammers, blacklisting over 615,788 mobile numbers linked to criminal activities between January and May 2024.
This aggressive move comes alongside stricter SIM registration protocols implemented in December 2023.
Additionally, Smart has also bolstered its SIM registration process, complying with a directive issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in December 2023. These measures include:
- Live selfie verification with liveness checks to ensure a real person is registering the SIM.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for accurate data capture.
- Facial recognition matching to confirm the user’s identity.
- Disabling the upload of generic selfies to prevent fraudulent registrations.
- Mandatory verification of all registrations before SIM activation.
PLDT and Smart are committed to providing Filipinos with a safe and secure digital experience. Their efforts extend beyond stricter registration processes. They have also engaged their provincial distributors, regional dealers, and trade partners to ensure the integrity of the SIM card sales and distribution process.
Meanwhile, the group’s #BeCyberSmart and #MagingCyberSmart campaigns continue to educate Filipinos on how to identify and avoid scams.
If you receive suspicious messages or calls, report them to PLDT and Smart. You can report via email to cybersecurityincidents@smart.com.ph and cybersecurityincidents@pldt.com.ph, via Smart’s verified social media pages (Smart Communications on Facebook and @SmartCares on Twitter), or by calling the hotline *888.
