The telco has stepped up efforts to go against these bad actors.
Last March 24, telecoms giant Globe announced that it has donated three International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher detectors to the government, namely the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
These equipment will help identify and locate unauthorized signal activity and illegal mobile infrastructure, such as IMSI catchers or fake base stations, which enable cybercriminals to send fraudulent SMS messages directly to unsuspecting users.
According to the company, these threats operate outside Globe’s network, which make them hard to detect.
Aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect and respond to mobile security threats, the catcher detectors will be able to identify and locate fake base stations in real time—helping improve response speed and enforcement actions.
With these capabilities, authorities can expand monitoring and enforcement across high-risk and densely populated areas, strengthening protection for millions of mobile users nationwide, according to the company.
Froilan Castelo, Group General Counsel at Globe, noted: “The threats we are seeing today operate at a deeper level, and addressing them requires stronger systems and closer coordination. We see it as our responsibility not only to provide connectivity, but to make sure that it remains safe and secure for every Filipino who relies on it.”
For his part, Anton Bonifacio, Chief AI Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Globe, noted: “What this initiative enables is visibility where it matters most. By detecting unauthorized signal activity, we can support faster investigation and response, which is critical in addressing threats like fake base stations.”
Currently, Globe has ongoing efforts to combat fraud and protect customers.
It has removed clickable links from official Globe SMS advisories and being the first telecom company to implement the non-delivery of all person-to-person (P2P) SMS with clickable links within its network.
Teh company also launched the SMS Scam Shield on the GlobeOne app to protect users from spoofed sender IDs and phishing attacks.
According to its data, in 2025, Globe blocked more than 967 million scam and spam messages and deactivated over 244,000 SIMs linked to fraudulent activity.
Globe also noted that it continues to work closely with government agencies and law enforcement to share intelligence, strengthen enforcement, and improve overall protection mechanisms.
“Every scam message is not just a digital threat. It affects real people, their finances, their safety, and their peace of mind,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.
“That is why efforts like this matter. It strengthens our ability to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and most importantly, protect Filipinos in a more coordinated way.”