Smart Communications, Inc. says it blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages during the first quarter of 2026. The company also blacklisted nearly 200,000 mobile numbers linked to fraudulent activity.
According to PLDT and Smart, scammers are now using more advanced methods, including fake cell towers that imitate legitimate network signals to send phishing messages directly to nearby phones.
“Scammers are exploiting devices that imitate legitimate cell towers to send fraudulent messages directly to nearby phones,” said Menardo 'Butch' Jimenez Jr., PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network. “This is why we continue to strengthen our network defenses while working closely with government partners to help protect our customers.”
The company explained that these attacks may involve IMSI catchers or rogue base stations that trick phones into connecting to fake network signals. Users may sometimes notice their phones dropping from 5G to older networks like 2G before suspicious messages arrive.
Smart and TNT recently launched anti-text scam awareness videos to support the government’s campaign against mobile-related fraud.
“Protecting Filipinos from online scams requires strong collaboration across government, industry and the public,” Jimenez Jr. added. “By raising awareness and strengthening safeguards across networks, we can make it harder for criminals to exploit mobile technologies.”
Smart reminds users to avoid clicking links from suspicious messages, especially those involving urgent account warnings, expiring rewards, or fake prize notifications.
Customers can report scam texts through the HULISCAM portal: Smart HULISCAM Portal
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