MANILA, Philippines — Globe has implemented measures to boost its defense against digital scams to protect its millions of customers.
Garrett Silao, Globe’s chief information security officer, said these measures include securing enterprise sender identifications, blocking malicious links, detecting SIM (subscriber identity module) box operations, and using network analytics to identify suspicious activity.
“These initiatives have helped reduce common SMS (short message service)-based scams that previously targeted millions of mobile users,” Silao said in a statement on Sunday.
Globe has observed that every time the telecommunications industry closes one avenue for scammers, cybercriminals look for another.
“As providers strengthen safeguards against spoofed SMS, malicious links, and SIM-based fraud, scammers continue to adapt their tactics, making the fight against digital fraud an ongoing effort rather than a one-time solution,” Silao said.
While the industry strengthens controls against one type of attack, scammers are constantly looking for new ways or different tactics and platforms to reach potential victims, Globe noted.
"This is why anti-scam efforts cannot rely on a single solution. It requires continuous innovation, collaboration, and public awareness," the Globe executive said.
Silao said scammers have been adopting more sophisticated techniques as traditional attack methods become harder to execute.
He cited one example — the use of illegal IMSI Catchers or fake cell towers, which trick nearby mobile devices into connecting to them instead of legitimate cellular infrastructure.
Unlike spoofed SMS messages that originate within messaging systems, he said IMSI catchers exploit cellular networks by broadcasting a stronger signal that tricks nearby phones into automatically connecting to them and bypassing security controls.
“While these devices operate differently from conventional scams, they reinforce a broader reality: cybercriminals continuously adjust their methods as security measures improve,” he revealed.
Globe, in a bid to keep pace with the evolving threats, has adopted a multi-layered approach that combines network protection, threat intelligence, industry collaboration, and customer education, according to the company’s chief security officer.
Aside from working closely with enterprise partners to secure legitimate messaging channels and proactively block known phishing websites, Globe also shares intelligence with financial institutions, government agencies, and law enforcement to help detect and respond to emerging threats more quickly, he stressed.
With its various initiatives such as Go Safe with Globe, Scam Shield on the GlobeOne app, customer advisories, and digital literacy campaigns, Silao said the company continues to equip Filipinos with practical knowledge to recognize and avoid scams before they cause harm.
He cited the critical role of technology in protecting as well as awareness that is equally important.
"The more informed people are about how scams work, the more difficult it becomes for fraudsters to succeed. Protecting consumers is a shared responsibility that requires industry, government, and the public to work together," Silao said.
The customers, according to Globe, must remain cautious when receiving unsolicited messages, requests for sensitive information, or offers that create a false sense of urgency, and report suspicious activity through official channels to help protect others from becoming victims.