Customers were advised never to disclose their one-time pin (OTP) to anyone, even if they were offered a prize or a promotion, and immediately report any strange calls or texts.
The company reaffirmed this reminder in the wake of recent concerns with over-the-top (OTT) media services. Fraudsters use a random Globe Postpaid number to sign up for a media service in this scheme. They then send an SMS to the customer’s phone number, acting as a Globe representative, informing them that they have won prizes such as smartphones and motorcycles. The customer is then prompted for the OTP created during the registration process. The scammers complete the signup when the client gives the OTP, and the former is invoiced for the subscription.
This type of “smishing,” in which attackers send SMS messages purporting to be from trustworthy companies, to deceive the recipient into divulging personal information.
In the previous two months, Globe has been sending out regular SMS blasts to all consumers to warn them of the ongoing scam. It has also been active on Globe Icon, its social media platform, to educate the public on spot scammers. Customers have also benefited from the company’s assistance in resolving erroneous charges.
Globe has also offered the following tips on how to recognize a scam or spam message:
1. The sender’s phone number is 11 digits long. Official Globe alerts are only sent from a sender code that is four digits or alphanumeric.
2. The message contains deliberate capitalization of some letters, as well as grammatical and spelling problems.
3. In exchange for raffle prizes, the text message demands personal information, such as name, age, and address.
4. Requests for OTP, passwords, or PIN from the sender. Globe or other legitimate entities will never request a password or an OTP.
Customers can also report Globe fraudulent actions using various methods, including the company’s Facebook page, Twitter account @Talk2GLOBE, and the GlobeOne app.