Phishing scam uses Globe Telecom’s official SMS channel – CICC

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The CICC warns the public that a new phishing scam is using the official Globe Telecom SMS thread. Here’s how it works: 

1. The phishing scam starts by informing users regarding the expiration of their Globe rewards. It asks people to enter a page labeled “Point Expiration Reminder.” 
2. Then, the fake Globe site provides a “Globe Menu,” which lists items that users can redeem with their points. 
3. Selecting a reward redirects users to a Shipping Address Form. This page collects sensitive information, such as name, address, and contact details.
4. The phishing scam redirects the user to an “Online Payment page,” which prompts them to provide their card details. It will charge “extra payment” allegedly required to cover the reward’s cost. 

READ: Shopping scam rate in PH is 36%, highest in 11 Asian countries

It will claim these are necessary to facilitate delivering the person’s chosen item. 

This setup entices users into believing they are eligible for rewards. Consequently, the phishing scam can lure them into providing sensitive personal information. 

This scheme could lead to unauthorized transactions, identity theft, and widespread financial fraud. 

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) investigators discovered the phishing campaign’s domain was created on November 27, 2024. 

Moreover, its Internet Protocol (IP) location is in Bucharest, Romania. 

“This new scheme is dangerous and alarming since perpetrators appear to have bypassed a National Telecommunications Commission memorandum on blocking clickable URLs in SMS,” Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos said.

“This underscores the need for further collaborative efforts to combat SMS-based phishing,” he emphasized.

The CICC is working with Globe Telecom to alert the public of this phishing scam. 

Also, it urges the public to call the Inter-Agency Response Center (IARC) Hotline 1326, especially for phishing complaints.

It’s a toll-free line that operates round-the-clock from Mondays to Sundays, including holidays.