MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Globe Telecom Inc. have warned the public against the illegal use of cell broadcasters after former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. was victimized by “spoofing” a day before the elections.
Abalos, national campaign manager of presidential bet Ferdinand “Bonbong” Marcos Jr., reported to Globe on May 8 that his mobile number was hacked and sending unauthorized messages indiscriminately.
He requested Globe that his mobile number be suspended. The Ayala-led telco responded immediately to ensure the security of the complainant’s account.
The NTC said validation confirmed that Abalos’ cell phone number, as per Globe’s findings, did not send out the unauthorized messages.
A Globe security operations team found that Abalos possibly became a victim of illegal broadcaster devices prohibited by the NTC under the Radio Control Law.
The NTC said it is looking into the matter in coordination with Globe, but it agreed with the telco that it may be a case of “SMS spoofing.”
According to Kaspersky, a cybersecurity solutions provider, phone number spoofing allows scammers to trick individuals to believe that they are receiving calls or messages from a particular number – a disguise – to entice them to fall for the scammer’s malicious motivations.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba warned operators of illegal broadcaster devices that they would face criminal and civil penalties.