To combat SMS scams involving forged sender ID "8080", Globe has begun removing clickable links from its official customer notifications. This measure targets scammers who impersonate Globe’s SMS channels using fake base stations or IMSI Catchers. Users who receive SMS messages containing links from "8080" or "Globe" should treat them as high-risk, rather than clicking directly or submitting personal information.
The IMSI Catchers used by scammers can be deployed in vehicles or as portable devices, tricking nearby mobile phones into downgrading their connection from newer 4G or 5G networks to a fake 2G base station. Once a phone connects to the fake base station, scammers can send SMS to users with any phone number or alphanumeric sender ID. These messages do not travel through Globe’s normal network, allowing them to potentially bypass the operator’s existing spam SMS filtering mechanisms.
Scam SMS often lures users to visit counterfeit websites using pretexts such as "claim your reward", "redeem a mobile phone", "account anomaly" or "click the link to get offers". After entering the site, users may be asked to fill in their mobile phone number, bank card details, passwords, one-time passcodes (OTP) or other personal information. Scammers can then use these details to hijack accounts, initiate fund transfers or carry out further identity theft.
Globe previously began blocking P2P SMS containing clickable links sent from personal numbers in September 2022. The company has observed that following the implementation of this measure and the SIM Registration Act, fraud syndicates have increasingly turned to IMSI Catchers and OTT instant messaging platforms to bypass traditional SMS network controls. As a result, Globe has further decided that official notifications will no longer carry links themselves, allowing users to help verify authenticity using the simple indicator of "whether the message contains a link".
This measure cannot completely eliminate SMS fraud, but it can reduce the probability that users mistake counterfeit messages for official notifications. If users need to verify information about rewards, accounts or services, they should proactively inquire through Globe’s official App, official website or customer service channels, and report suspicious messages via the #StopSPAM platform.
