Smart Communications said Thursday it implemented tighter verification processes and advanced technology to combat fraudulent SIM card registrations.
The company said it is focused on preventing the use of fake IDs and photos during the registration process.
“Smart assures our customers that we are continuously enhancing our network infrastructure to reject fraudulent SIM registration as we intensify our efforts against mobile technology-aided criminal activities,” Smart vice president and head of regulatory affairs Roy Ibay said.
Smart said it rolled out enhanced verification mechanisms including the adoption of “live selfie” and liveness checks, disabling of the upload of stock selfies and verification of registrations prior to activation since December 2023, in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission’s directive.
Smart said complementing the improved SIM registration controls is its new network firewall that blocks malicious links often found in unsolicited text messages.
It prevented almost 200 million SMShing messages from reaching customers in August.
Smart also blocked more than 770,000 mobile numbers tied to phishing and other illegal activities in the first seven months of the year.
“Smart fully supports the government’s efforts to protect Filipinos from being scammed. We actively collaborate with relevant agencies, our peers and partners in the industry, as well as our customers in fighting fraud and other phishing activities,” Ibay said.
PLDT and Smart also engaged their provincial distributors, regional dealers and other trade partners to ensure the security and integrity of the sale and distribution process of Smart SIMs.
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