BDO Unibank issued a public warning on November 13 about recent “voice phishing” scams, where fraudulent voice calls target online banking clients to obtain their personal details.
Voice phishing, or “vishing,” is a scam method in which perpetrators pose as legitimate government or bank employees, calling victims’ personal cell numbers to persuade them to share sensitive information such as a One-Time Pin (OTP) or Card Verification Value (CVV) number.
These scams often work by rushing or confusing victims during the call, promising limited-time rewards or special offers to encourage the sharing of private information.
The vishing scheme typically begins with a text message or instant call. In response, popular online banking platforms like Maya and GCash (Globe Telecom) have recently issued warnings, advising customers not to click on links from numbers claiming to represent them, emphasizing that official messages will never include such links.
In September, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) proposed lobbying for amendments to RA 11934, also known as the SIM Registration Act.
The SIM Registration Act, enacted in 2022, mandates identification for individual SIM cards in the Philippines to reduce scam calls from unknown numbers.
DICT Undersecretary Alexander Ramos explained in a September press conference that the proposed amendments would include measures to prevent the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for large-scale data scraping from registered SIMs. Reports indicate that scam syndicates have been selling 500-1,000 pre-registered SIM cards on the black market.
Another proposed amendment seeks to limit the number of SIM cards an individual can register.
The SIM Registration Act has faced criticism for permitting data access by the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, raising concerns about potential government surveillance on private information.
