CICC helps PNP-ACG track IMSI catchers with mobile BTS-Trackers
MANILA, Philippines — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has provided the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) with mobile BTS-Trackers to find criminals with International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers.
CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos said the mobile phone-sized trackers would improve the PNP-ACG’s ability to combat spoofing scams.
READ: Authorities arrest Malaysian allegedly supplying IMSI scamming devices
The schemes involve fraudsters impersonating legitimate service providers, government agencies, and financial institutions.
They use IMSI catchers, which are also known as rogue cell towers, fake cell towers, cell site simulators, or “stingrays.”
The devices make it seem like their fraud messages are from reputable sources.
As a result, they can trick people into providing sensitive information to steal funds and facilitate other digital crimes.
“These state-of-the-art BTS-Trackers will empower the PNP-ACG to track IMSI catcher operators in real-time, allowing law enforcers to take swift action against scammers,” Ramos said.
“The PNP-ACG, in collaboration with the CICC, continues to improve its anti-cybercrime capabilities to keep pace with global law enforcement standards,” he added.
This initiative highlights the Philippine government’s ongoing efforts to bolster cybersecurity and protect the public from digital fraud.
Recently, the PNP-ACG caught a former POGO security guard selling an IMSI catcher.
In January, the CICC, PNP-ACG, the Bureau of Immigration, and the National Telecommunications Commission apprehended a Malaysian for illegally selling IMSI catchers in the Philippines.
