telecommunication – Author Carlo Carrasco

Scam Calls In The Philippines Jumped 78.44% In 3rd Quarter Of 2025

November 1, 2025October 23, 2025carlocarrasco

If you are in the Philippines, did you receive any suspicious calls on the telephone or on your mobile phone lately? Based on the data of an anti-scam app developer, scam calls in the country surged by more than 78% in the 3^rd quarter of this year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

A 78.44 percent rise in scam calls was recorded in the Philippines in the third quarter of 2025, data from the latest Whoscall Scam Report of global anti-scam app developer Gogolook showed.

During the period, Whoscall said it logged a total of 62,390 scam calls, a sharp increase from 34,964 in the previous quarter.

Despite the spike, it noted that the figure remains 62.24 percent lower year-on-year than the 165,236 scam calls recorded in the same period in 2024.

Whoscall stated that it recorded 37,609 SMS scams, down by 42.17 percent from 65,035 in the previous quarter and a 97.71 percent year-on-year drop from 1,645,470 in 2024.

Gogolook Philippines Country Head and General Manager Mel Migriño said the trend indicates a behavioral shift among mobile users.

“Since the first quarter Scam Report of 2025, we have seen that Filipinos have become more cautious about clicking links from unknown numbers in SMS swindles. This shows that scammers are now shifting their tactics to calls and social media,” she said.

She explained that the rise in call scams is largely driven by fraudsters exploiting the telemarketing systems of financial institutions.

“They are taking advantage of legitimate promotional calls like credit card limit upgrades, making their scams sound more believable to unsuspecting consumers,” she noted.

Per Migriño, the continued decline in text-based scams can be credited to the “whole-of-society approach” involving law enforcement raids of major scam hubs nationwide and joint awareness campaigns.

Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report scam incidents through official channels.

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) acting executive director Usec. Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said public reports are crucial in combating online fraud.

“We continue to urge the public to report scam incidents, as these serve as leads for further investigation and as the foundation for various initiatives that raise public awareness against online scams,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think is causing the surge of scam calls over the previous quarter?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Ten men arrested in Parañaque City for cutting underground cables of a telecommunications company

June 11, 2025June 6, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, ten men were arrested by the police after they were caught cutting the underground cables of a telecommunications firm in Barangay Don Bosco, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Recovered from the suspects were 600 pairs of cut underground copper cable (around 106 meters each), a claw bar, an improvised hook and a closed van to name some.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Authorities from the Paranaque City Police arrested 10 men who were caught in the act of cutting underground cables of a telecommunications provider in violation of Republic Act No. 10515 or the Anti-Cable Theft Law.

The suspects were identified as “Jayson,” 33; “Cris,” 32; “Roger,” 32; “John,” 29; “Calixto,” 26; “Mark,” 23; “John,” 22; “Marlo,” 21; “Jiric,” 21; and “Rogelio,” 19, all residents of Tondo, Manila. Two other suspects evaded arrest.

The police said the suspects were arrested at around 3:30 a.m. in front of the TCL Authorized Service Center located along France St., Barangay Don Bosco, Paranaque City, by members of the Paranaque City Police Don Bosco Substation.

Operatives from Paranaque City Police Don Bosco Substation were reportedly conducting routine patrol when they noticed a suspicious closed van and, upon their approach, the group of men cutting cable wires tried to flee but were prevented with the assistance of Barangay Don Bosco officials.

The police said coordination with the telecommunications providers showed that there was no authorized repair or maintenance work in the area, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think crime will only get worse over the next three years? Do you think there will still be people out there who will organize illegal operations that look like maintenance work?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Globe warns customers about fraudsters calling them while pretending to be officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

October 8, 2024September 30, 2024carlocarrasco

There is an ongoing trend here in the Philippines in which fraudsters/scammers have been calling up customers pretending to be officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) with the intention to extort money from them. Already there have been victims and telecommunication giant Globe recently warned the public about the trend and advised them not to be fooled by the fraudsters, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. on Monday warned customers against a new vishing or voice phishing scam, where fraudsters call victims pretending to be officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

According to Globe, scammers call victims claiming that their number had been linked to illegal activities, and would then extort money from them with threats of arrest if they do not cooperate.

“Criminals prey on our natural respect for authority, using it as a weapon to deceive and manipulate. This is what we see in this new scam modus, where fraudsters pretend to be NTC officials,” Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio said in an emailed statement.

“We call on our customers to be very vigilant and do not fall victim to these scammers,” he said.

Globe also urged its customers to be wary of unsolicited calls, refrain from giving out personal information or financial details over the phone, and report suspicious calls to the authorities.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that local authorities will be able to track down the scammers and arrest them? Were there many members of your local community who received calls from people claiming to be officials of the NTC?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Muntinlupa City Government tells telecom firms to relocate cables and wires underground this year

February 29, 2024February 20, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally told all telecommunication companies and service providers to relocate the overhead cables and wires underground this year in accordance to an existing city ordinance, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

All telecommunication companies and service providers that use overhead wires and cables are required to relocate and install their facilities underground starting this year in Muntinlupa.

This is mandated by Muntinlupa City Ordinance 2021-256 which was passed by the Muntinlupa City Council in August 2021.

2021-056 is an “ordinance requiring/mandating all telecommunication companies, service providers, and other similar entities that use overhead wires and/or cables operating within the City of Muntinlupa to install and/or relocate wire and cable system underground.”

Muntinlupa Councilor Mamerto Sevilla Jr., chairman of the Committee on Land Use and Zoning and one of the sponsors of the ordinance, told Manila Bulletin that the ordinance will take effect by August this year.

“Yung ordinance kasi ipinasa noong 2021, August. Implied doon sa ordinance na after three years magte-take effect. So yung three years niya this August (The ordinance was passed in 2021. It is implied in the ordinance that it will take effect after three years. So the three years will be this August),” said Sevilla.

He said by August this year, affected companies under the first phase should have relocated their wires and cables underground.

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) are being prepared by the Muntinlupa City government.

The ordinance stated that “it is necessary to protect the residents from the hazardous effects of overhead lines in the event of earthquakes, heavy rain or thunderstorms.”

“An underground cabling system will serve the purpose of having a sustainable, safe, and clean aesthetic view of power lines to respond to the changing needs of technology which are likewise less susceptive to mechanical damages,” it added.

The ordinance covers “all telecommunication companies, service providers, and other similar entities which use overhead wires and cables located within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Muntinlupa.”

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will be allowed to maintain its overhead wiring and cabling subject to restrictions.

Under the Muntinlupa ordinance, telecommunication companies and service providers are defined as “any company, private corporation or business entity which has a franchise to operate a system of transmission of signs, signals, messages, words, writings, images and sounds or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical electromagnetic systems.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think the adjustments of wires and cables will be implemented by the telecommunication firms with minimal disruption of services?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

DILG calls on local government units to take part in SIM card registration information campaign

December 21, 2022December 19, 2022carlocarrasco

Anyone based here in the Philippines using mobile devices that each carry SIM cards are required to have the said cards registered starting December 27, 2022 in accordance to Republic Act 11934 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act. To ensure that as many people get informed about this, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local government units (LGUs) nationwide to participate in the information drive, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA report. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local government units (LGUs) to help the national government in its information campaign on the implementation of Republic Act 11934 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, which takes effect on Dec. 27.

RA 11934, the first law signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to regulate the registration and use of SIMs by mandating all end-users to register their SIMs with their respective telecommunications networks before their activation.

In a statement on Monday, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said an intensive information drive must be carried out at the grassroots level and LGUs should step up in educating the public on the requirements and importance of the law.

“As we seek to ensure public safety even in the online space, I encourage LGUs to exert all efforts to promote responsible use of SIM cards, educate their stakeholders on the benefits of mandatory SIM card registration and guide them through the whole registration process,” Abalos said.

He said the SIM Registration Act will aid the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement authorities in curbing rising electronic communication-aided criminal activities in the Philippines such as mobile phishing, spam text messages, online scams, bank frauds and identity theft,” Abalos said.

Abalos said the implementation of the law will not only prompt accountability from all sides — the mobile users, the telcos, the government and authorities — but will also help the PNP to quickly locate offenders of crimes committed in anonymity through the use of electronic devices.

Section 4 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) released by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) provides that DILG, along with other government agencies such as DICT, NTC, DepEd, and telecom companies, shall “facilitate all SIM registrations in remote areas with limited telecommunication or internet access.”

“Together with the LGUs, DILG will cooperate with DICT and the NCT to fast-track the establishment of registration facilities in geographically-isolated areas, which should be done within 60 days after December 27,” Abalos said.

The DILG chief sought the assistance of local chief executives (LCEs) and barangay captains in remote areas in processing needed documents and other requirements to set up the registration centers.

“We know not everyone has access to the internet and other means of communication so let us reach out to them and inform them of this new law,” he said.

To register, all existing SIM subscribers must submit an accomplished form through a database platform or website provided by the telco company within 180 days. The DICT can extend the registration period for another 120 days. If a subscriber fails to register, SIM cards will be deactivated.

Subscribers must provide the following: full name, birthday, sex, address, mobile SIM number and serial number and valid identification cards (for individuals); business name, business address and full name of authorized signatory (for businesses and other juridical entities); full name, nationality, birthday, passport, proof of Philippine address, return ticket to own country (for foreigners and tourists).

Abalos also urged parents and guardians to be responsible and register the SIM used by their minor children or relatives under their name to protect them from ill-intentioned individuals. They will be asked to present an ID and consent form.

“To our parents and guardians, let us help each other in this endeavor to safeguard minors. Magtulungan po tayo upang masiguro na hindi sila mabibiktima ng mga panloloko (Let’s work together to protect them from fraud) online,” he said.

Likewise, Abalos asked the public to support the mandatory SIM card registration as this will be beneficial in the long run.

“I encourage every Filipino to register their SIM cards and be one with the government in fighting text and online scams which are becoming more prevalent in recent years,” he added.

Abalos warned people who will attempt to provide false or fictitious information and documents to register a SIM and those who will try to spoof a registered SIM to defraud or cause harm.

The above report ended stating that registering with false or fictitious information or the use of fake identities constitute a penalty of six months to two years imprisonment, and a fan of P100,000 to P300,000.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this latest development from the national government? Are you worried that SIM card registration will be tough and inconvenient to do given the nationwide scope of the processing?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirms September 21 arrest of Korean telecommunication fraud suspect in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City

October 12, 2022October 10, 2022carlocarrasco

The arrest of foreign fugitives in Parañaque City (for reference, click here, here and here) has been going on for some time now. Recently, a fugitive from South Korea was arrested in Barangay BF Homes in Parañaque which, according to a Manila Standard news report, happened on September 21, 2022 and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) only confirmed it and talked about it lately. The report described the place of arrest as “BF Tahanan Village” which is a loose reference to Tahanan Village.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday announced the arrest of a South Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for involvement in a multi-million telecommunications fraud case.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) identified the fugitive as 33-year-old Lee Won Ho, who was arrested last Sept. 21 at his residence in BF Tahanan Village, Parañaque City.

The FSU operatives who arrested Lee were armed with a warrant of deportation issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the bureau’s board of commissioners issued against the Korean in four years ago.

Tansingco said Lee will be deported immediately and that the latter was already placed in the immigration blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country.

“He is an undesirable alien whose presence here poses a serious risk to public interest,” Tansingco said. “Thus, he should be perpetually barred from entering the Philippines.”

BI-FSU acting chief Rendell Ryan Sy said the Korean was issued an arrest warrant by the Incheon district court in Seoul, Korea where he was indicted for Fraud and that the latter’s passport was already revoked.

Lee was tagged as a high-ranking member of the so-called Minju Family, a big-time telecom fraud syndicate allegedly operating in Manila.

Sy said the syndicate is suspected of having defrauded over USD21 million from their Korean victims based overseas.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Parañaque City resident, what can you say about this latest crime-related news? Do you think that Parañaque still has lots of foreign fugitives living somewhere among the many villages or private subdivisions? Are you concerned that a foreign fugitive could be living next door to you?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

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