The National Telecommunications Commission has directed the country’s top telecommunications companies to inform their subscribers not to fall for scams that offer them jobs.
In a memorandum signed by Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba, the NTC, “in the interest of service,” ordered Digitel Mobile Philippines, Globe Telecoms, Smart Communications and DITO Telecommunity to text blast the following proposed message to their customers – “BABALA! Huwag maniwala sa text na diumano’y nagaalok ng trabaho. Huwag po magbigay ng personal na impormasyon. Ito po ay isang scam.”
The NTC has been alarmed of the modus by unscrupulous individuals for it involves privacy issues or breach of customer’s personal data.
“Kindly submit your report of compliance to the Office of the Commissioner on or before 14 December 2021,” Cordoba wrote the telco firms.
On Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said that the deluge of text messages offering fake job offers to the public is a “cause for concern” as it highlights privacy concerns in the country.
Over the weekend, the public received a series of text messages offering dubious job offers. This raised concerns that the phone numbers may have been sourced from contact-tracing forms that the public was required to fill up before are allowed entry into business establishments during the pandemic.
The NTC reminded the public to be vigilant over the increase of spam text messages, never provide personal information to strangers and not entertain survey questions from unknown senders nor click any link from dubious websites.
