Globe, Smart, DITO strengthen defenses against online scams

MANILA — The Philippines’ three major telecommunications operators are stepping up efforts to combat digital scams as growing fears over online fraud threaten consumer confidence and the country’s expanding digital economy.

Globe Telecom, PLDT/Smart, and DITO Telecommunity are advancing measures to strengthen network security, improve identity verification, and detect suspicious activities before consumers lose money to fraudsters.

The coordinated effort comes as more Filipinos rely on mobile platforms for banking, shopping, business transactions, and government services, making digital security increasingly important to economic growth and public welfare.

For consumers and businesses, stronger protection could mean fewer fraudulent transactions, safer online payments, and greater confidence in legitimate digital services.

The urgency is reflected in the GSMA ASEAN Consumer Scam Report 2026, which found that 76% of Filipino consumers surveyed said they “absolutely worry” about being scammed.

Another 62% reported avoiding certain contacts or transactions because of scam concerns, indicating that fraud is affecting how people engage with the digital economy.

Such behavior creates challenges for legitimate businesses, financial institutions, and service providers that depend on digital communications to reach customers and complete transactions.

The findings come despite the Philippines’ continued progress in digital development, with the country tied for third place among 11 ASEAN markets in the GSMA Digital Nations Index 2026.

The ranking highlights the country’s expanding digital capabilities but also underscores the need to protect consumers as connectivity and digital services become more widespread.

At the GSMA Digital Nation Summit Manila on Nov. 4, the three telecommunications companies outlined initiatives to strengthen consumer protection through improved network safeguards and GSMA Open Gateway technology.

The measures are designed to help businesses verify customer identities, authenticate transactions, and identify potential fraud using mobile network capabilities.

Julian Gorman, GSMA head of Asia Pacific, emphasized that the country’s digital progress would depend increasingly on public confidence in online services.

“The Philippines has real digital momentum, but sustaining that progress depends on trust. Scams move across communications channels, digital platforms and payment systems, so protecting consumers requires action across the digital ecosystem.

“Mobile operators have capabilities that can make a real difference. In the Philippines, we are bringing operators together to strengthen protection in the network and make digital transactions safer. Across ASEAN, we are also working with operators to explore whether network signals can help identify scam activity earlier and enable action elsewhere in the digital ecosystem before consumers are harmed. The priority now is to turn these capabilities into practical solutions that better protect consumers.”

The industry initiative focuses on three levels of protection: securing mobile networks, safeguarding digital transactions, and identifying potential scams before they reach consumers.

The first involves strengthening network-level defenses through the GSMA United Against Scams Playbook, which provides telecommunications operators with practical approaches to scam prevention, detection, and response.

These measures aim to improve how mobile operators identify suspicious communications and respond to potential threats within their networks.

The second focuses on protecting financial and other digital transactions through GSMA Open Gateway, an industry initiative that allows authorized businesses to use standardized mobile network capabilities for identity verification and authentication.

Globe, Smart, and DITO support the development of these capabilities, which could help banks, financial technology companies, online merchants, and government agencies strengthen protection against identity theft and unauthorized transactions.

The technology can support security checks such as verifying whether a mobile number belongs to a user or detecting suspicious SIM-related changes that may indicate an account takeover attempt.

The three operators previously signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2025 to collaborate on deploying standardized network application programming interfaces under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative.

The agreement established a framework for cooperation on fraud prevention, identity verification, and the development of more secure digital services.

The next challenge is translating these technical capabilities into practical applications that businesses and government agencies can adopt.

The third level of protection involves identifying potential scams earlier by examining whether mobile network data and signals can reveal suspicious activity before consumers are harmed.

Across ASEAN, the GSMA is working with mobile operators to explore how relevant network intelligence could support earlier intervention by telecommunications companies, digital platforms, and financial institutions.

In the Philippines, this work is being advanced through a GSMA Foundry proof of concept with Globe Telecom.

The project seeks to determine whether network signals can help identify potential scam activity and allow other participants in the digital ecosystem to act before fraudulent transactions occur.

Unlike conventional approaches that often respond after consumers report suspicious messages or financial losses, the proposed system aims to identify warning signs earlier in the scam process.

Its effectiveness will depend on whether the technology can reliably detect threats, support timely intervention, and protect consumers’ personal information.

The broader concern is not limited to the Philippines.

The GSMA ASEAN Consumer Scam Report 2026 found that 45% of reported scam cases across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam remained unresolved.

The report also found that 82% of scam victims who lost money recovered none of their losses, highlighting the financial consequences of ineffective prevention and response systems.

These findings reinforce the need for cooperation among telecommunications operators, banks, digital platforms, regulators, and law enforcement agencies because fraudulent activities often cross institutional and technological boundaries.

The GSMA Digital Nation Summit Manila, held Nov. 4, 2026, brings together policymakers, mobile operators, and technology leaders under the theme “Building the Philippines’ Digital Future: Anchoring Trust to Accelerate Value.”

The gathering examines how stronger digital trust, improved connectivity, and cooperation between government and industry can support the next phase of the country’s digital transformation.

Discussions also focus on converting industry commitments into practical measures that provide greater protection and value for consumers, businesses, and the wider economy.

For the Philippine telecommunications industry, the challenge is to demonstrate that stronger network security and authentication systems can deliver measurable improvements in fraud prevention.

The stakes extend beyond preventing financial losses, as persistent scam concerns could discourage consumers and small businesses from adopting digital services that offer opportunities for greater efficiency, wider market access, and economic inclusion.

Ultimately, sustaining the Philippines’ digital growth will require more than expanding connectivity; it will also require ensuring that Filipinos can use digital services without constantly fearing that the next message, call, or transaction could be a scam.