In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said President Marcos directed the agency to ensure that all of the transactions in digital infrastructure would be safe on Christmas.
‘Our aspiration this holiday season is that when Filipinos make online transactions-especially now that the use of credit cards and digital payments are high-we can do so with confidence and peace of mind,’ he added.
According to Aguda, among their priority programs to protect online transactions is to completely shut down the unsecured 3G and 2G networks in the country, which are being exploited by criminals to send phishing or scam texts to steal personal information of victims.
Mobile network companies Smart Communications, Globe Telecom and DITO Telecommunity phased out their 3G network connectivity in September, with the National Telecommunications Commission just awaiting confirmation that they completely shut down.
However, switching off the 2G signal in the entire country would take some time.
Aguda said the DICT was still planning the transition because around 10 million Filipinos, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), still rely on 2G for voice calls and text messages.
‘It’s not a problem there since people in GIDAs don’t usually use credit cards or online payments. The real issue is the continued use of 2G in malls and in cities such as those in Metro Manila. that’s where it becomes risky,’ he explained.
Vulnerable to phishing
According to Aguda, 2G networks expose mobile point-of-service (POS) systems to phishing scams because they lack modern encryption, mutual authentication and security protocols, which make it easier for cyber attackers to hack data transmitted over these networks.
‘The public should be careful in using mobile POS systems that still rely on 2G connectivity because the signals from these can be intercepted by devices called stingers or IMSI catchers,’ he said.
An IMSI catcher works like a fake cell tower and can capture 2G or 3G signals.
Because 2G and 3G do not always verify network authenticity, the POS device might connect unknowingly to the IMSI catcher.
Once connected, hackers can inject phishing messages, or steal login credentials, including card information and transaction details.
‘You might think a message is coming from your bank or the government, but it’s actually been altered by scammers pretending to be legitimate senders,’ Aguda said.
‘I already told telecommunication companies that if they cannot completely phase out 2G yet, they should at least replace it in malls and other areas where online payments and credit card use are high,’ he added.
The DICT and the major telcos in the country made their commitment to fully support the Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s (GASA) international campaign to combat the growing threat of online scams, following a high-level meeting with global industry leaders in August.
Aguda met with officials of GASA and the GSM Association (GSMA) to discuss stronger cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing in tackling cyber-enabled crimes.
The meeting underscored the Philippines’ commitment to join worldwide efforts against online fraud.
Aguda also encouraged Filipinos who fell victims to online scams to file a complaint at DICT’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) national anti-scam hotline 1326, or to its email address [email protected].
According to the CICC, cybercrime complaints filed with their office grew three times to 10,004 in 2024, from 3,3317 complaints in 2023.