Smart Sounds the Alarm on Fake Cell Towers Use to Send Text Scams This Holiday Season

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to urge its customers to avoid clicking links embedded in unwanted text messages or SMShing messages. These links may lead to phishing websites that steal users’ personal information. Smart also sounds the alarm on criminals using ‘fake cell towers’ to bypass network defenses. The Philippine National Police had earlier called on the public to be more vigilant against text scams this holiday season.

Criminals have gotten more sophisticated. They use ‘fake cell towers’ that mimic legitimate cell towers to push messages directly to customers in an area. These messages often induce alarm to trick victims into clicking the attached link. They also can mask sender names or numbers to deceive victims into thinking they are receiving official messages from trusted sources. Recently, fraudsters launched phishing attacks where they prompted victims to re-register their SIM or risk losing mobile service.

“We remind our customers that there is no need to register their Smart or TNT SIM if they have successfully registered before. We also ask the public that if you receive a text message with a URL or clickable web link that should be a red flag because telecom providers are not allowed to send out messages that contain these links," said Atty. Roy Ibay, VP and Head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart.

Smart is working closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to curb the use of fake cell towers. Smart is also collaborating with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to address scams, support investigations, apprehensions, and prosecutions of parties involved in scamming the public.

Smart encourages subscribers to report suspicious messages through its HULISCAM portal at https://smart.com.ph/huliscam. Subscribers can provide details such as the sender’s mobile number or alphanumeric identifier, the message content, the date received, and the recipient's location. Fraudulent SIM numbers are promptly blocked following verification.

Subscribers may also report scams to Smart’s verified social media channels—Smart Communications on Facebook and @SMARTCares on X—or by calling hotline *888.