NTC educates public on fraud, scam prevention
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Caraga, during the Department Information Officers (DIO) Hour on September 2, hosted by Provincial Public Information Officer Head PJ Dela Peña of the Provincial Public Information Office (PPIO) Agusan del Sur, urged the public to remain vigilant against scams and online fraud while providing practical tips on how to protect personal and financial information.
NTC Caraga Attorney III Krizza Marie Sayas Uy discussed the various types of scams and ways the public can avoid falling victim to scammers and fraudsters.
Uy first introduced NTC’s background and its role in regulating telecommunications and radio communications in the country.
“The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is the government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing telecommunications and radio communications in the Philippines. It supervises the licensing and operation of handheld and two-way radios, radio stations, telecommunications companies, internet service providers (ISPs), and public internet services such as Piso WiFi,” Uy said.
She added that the NTC also manages the use of radio frequencies, issues permits and licenses for communication devices, and ensures that telecommunications services comply with national laws and technical standards.
IMSI catchers and mobile security
As the discussion continued, Uy explained the concept of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and the potential risks associated with devices known as IMSI catchers.
“IMSI, or the international mobile subscriber identity, is a unique number associated with a mobile phone subscriber’s SIM card used by telecommunication companies to verify the user of a mobile number,” Uy said.
She explained that scammers continue to explore different methods to expand their reach, including the possible use of IMSI catchers. These are devices or systems that can imitate legitimate cellular network towers and potentially identify or track nearby mobile devices.
“Now, scammers are looking for ways to widen their reach and scam many people. They invent and discover IMSI catchers, devices or systems that pretend to be a legitimate cellular network tower to identify or track nearby mobile devices, which may be deployed in crowded areas,” she said.
She also warned the public to be cautious when receiving suspicious messages and links, particularly those involving bank accounts, e-wallets, and other financial services.
Fake transactions and links
The NTC official also explained that scammers may impersonate legitimate banks, e-wallet providers, government agencies, and other institutions. They may use authentic-looking transaction messages and insert malicious links designed to trick users into providing their personal and financial information.
She urged the public to watch out for common warning signs, including urgent threats, offers that appear too good to be true, suspicious links, requests for one-time passwords (OTPs) and other private information such as birth dates, and demands for advance payments.
“Our advice for those receiving those warnings is to ignore them and not interact with them. This will prevent scammers from knowing that you are using an active number. Double-check your accounts, especially when they are connected to bank accounts and registered devices,” Uy said.
She also advised the public to regularly check their e-wallet accounts because scammers may potentially use compromised information to access financial services or obtain loans without the account holder’s knowledge.
“If you already gave your personal information to possible scammers, go to your bank and ask them to temporarily close or suspend your accounts. If you have money in the account, transfer it to a safer account. As much as possible, do not use the same PINs or passwords. Use different passwords for better protection,” Uy said.
Common scams
The highlight of the discussion was when Uy presented several common forms of scams, including phishing, vishing, smishing, and fake parcel scams—activities that have plagued ordinary mobile and internet patrons.
Phishing involves fraudulent messages or websites designed to deceive users into providing sensitive information. Vishing uses voice calls or other forms of communication to obtain personal information, OTPs, or passwords, while smishing uses text messages containing malicious links that direct users to fraudulent websites where they may be asked to enter confidential information.
The surge of online shopping transactions has also paved the way for a new scheme involving fake parcel deliveries, where scammers claim that a person has an unpaid or unexpected cash-on-delivery package. In some cases, the package may contain an item that the recipient did not order.
Uy also warned against scams that misuse the names or identities of celebrities. Scammers may falsely claim to be a celebrity’s manager, staff member, or colleague and offer gadgets or other rewards in exchange for personal information or payment.
The NTC encouraged the public to remain cautious and verify messages, calls, websites, and offers before taking any action. By protecting personal information, avoiding suspicious links, and verifying transactions through official channels, the public can reduce the risk of falling victim to telecommunications-related scams and online fraud. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur with a report from PPIO Agusan del Sur)
