Have you receive unsolicited text messages asking you to input a certain digit and to send it in
a number that starts with “2”? These messages are flagged as scam messages due
to the fact that the whole scheme stated above is Globe’s Share-a-Load process.
Due to this, Globe
Telecom puts in place more stringent measures to curb text scams and prevent
customers from being victimized in share-a-load transactions via SMS.
Starting early
August, Globe set up a system which limits the amount of share-a-load
transaction to a maximum of P150 or prepaid customers and P300 for postpaid
customer. This system helps postpaid customers from sharing P500 in load credit.
As an added
measure, customers will be given the choice to confirm their transaction
through a validation text asking customers if they are sure about doing a
share-a-load. The validation text will be implemented starting September 8.
Globe has put these
measures in place based on reports from its customers about the varying text
scams using spiels like rewards, loyalty, MSF discount, roaming and bill
overcharge, waiver of charges, refunds, etc.
A sample of such
fraudulent text message reads as follows: “Globe: Congrats! You’re one of the
lucky postpaid subscribers to receive a P500 bill discount. To claim your bill
discount just text: 500 and send to 2906XXXXXXX.”
“The new measures
will help protect our customers from being victimized by text scams. It is equally important for our customers to
be aware that by adding the number “2” before the 10-digit mobile number of the
recipient, they are doing a share-a-load transaction,” said Yoly Crisanto,
Globe Senior Vice-President for Corporate Communications.
Crisanto also urged
Globe customers to immediately report thru http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam and
provide all the details required. Numbers that are reported as source of text
scams will be immediately blocked from the network,”
Following the telecommunication
company’s intensified efforts to combat text spams and text scams early this
year, the number of reports using the website has reached over 42,000 since it
was created last June 2014.
