Decline in blocked spam SMS indicates migration of scammers to other channels

Globe has observed a significant decline in blocked spam SMS messages in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, revealing a noticeable shift of illegal activities to other channels as scammers adapt to circumvent anti-fraud measures.

In the second quarter of 2024, Globe intercepted a total of 235,998,731 spam SMS messages, a substantial drop from the 1,104,502,921 messages blocked in the same quarter of 2023. This is a substantial 79% year-on-year (YOY) decline.

So far blocked spam SMS messages in 2024 have been declining, with a 35% decrease from 362,773,894 messages blocked in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the year’s second quarter.

Further supporting this trend, the number of deactivated SIMs reported via Globe’s #StopScam portal from April to June 2024 fell to 504 from 4,054 in the same period the previous year, marking an 88% decrease YoY.

Between the first and second quarters of 2024, the drop was 40%, with the first three months of 2024 recording 841 deactivated numbers. Deactivated numbers include SIMs within the Globe network.

Meanwhile, the total blacklisted numbers from competitor networks are also declining albeit still substantial from 31,078 in the second quarter of 2023 to 11,026 in the second quarter of 2024, indicating a 65% reduction YoY, and a 70% decrease from this year’s first quarter total of 36,549.

“We have observed a consistent decline in spam SMS– those that pass through the cellular network– as we continue to implement stringent filtering systems, including blocking person-to-person SMS with links,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe’s Chief Information Security Officer and Chief AI Officer.

“We reiterate our advise to our customers to remain vigilant and never engage with any unsolicited message they receive, whether via SMS or chat apps, particularly those with dubious offers,” he added.

Changing scam tactics

While these figures demonstrate the effectiveness of Globe’s current spam filtering systems, they also highlight a change in scam tactics that evade cellular networks.

Currently, there is an increasing threat posed by spoofed SMS, a method that bypasses telecom networks’ spam filters, making detection and prevention particularly challenging.

Spoofing is a technique in which unscrupulous persons or groups impersonate SMS channels to lure unsuspecting victims into sharing personal information or clicking on malicious links, potentially leading to financial losses or compromised data security.

Spoofed SMS uses International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers or fake cell towers. These devices simulate cell towers to intercept mobile communications within a certain radius, compelling phones to connect and receive spoofed SMS messages directly. These messages do not pass through the cellular network, hence evading telco filters.

Fraudsters are also shifting to over the top media services or chatapps, Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats for Android users, and other Internet-based messaging platforms to send messages to target users even while using foreign numbers or email addresses. These messages also do not pass through the cellular network.

“As we tighten our defenses against spam SMS, we are also aware that scammers are continuously evolving their methods. Globe is committed to staying ahead of these threats by enhancing our security protocols across all channels. Our goal is to protect our customers from fraud, ensuring their trust in our services remains unshaken,” said Bonifacio.

The company is stepping up its efforts to combat fraud by deploying advanced network probes to detect and neutralize IMSI catchers and fake base stations.  It also continues to proactively block SMS with links.

To further bolster its cybersecurity framework, Globe continues to invest in state-of-the-art technologies and strategic partnerships, ensuring robust protection for its customers against emerging threats.

As part of its ongoing commitment to customer security, Globe urges its users to report any suspicious messages or activities to the #StopSpam portal. Globe also educates its customers on safe digital practices to further safeguard them from potential scams.