Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) used SIM cards to steal P1 billion from the e-wallets of online fraud victims, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.
DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said that authorities confiscated around 28,000 SIM cards from POGOs in Pasay City last month. When they checked the SIM cards, they found that each one had a balance of P50,000 to P100,000.
Uy said that the POGOs used these SIM cards to steal money from online fraud victims. They would trick victims into giving them their personal information, such as their bank account numbers and e-wallet passwords. Then, they would use the SIM cards to access the victims’ e-wallets and steal their money.
Uy called on e-wallet operators to tighten their security measures. He said that criminal groups are constantly changing their methods, so e-wallet operators need to be vigilant.
The DICT has proposed limiting SIM ownership and imposing a registration fee for a fourth SIM card and beyond. This is an attempt to crack down on SIM card fraud and other illegal activities.
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) says that online scams are worse than the illegal drug trade.
The PNP reported that 16,297 cybercrime cases were investigated in 2023, and the most common types of cybercrime include online scams, illegal access, identity theft, ATM/credit card fraud, threats, data interference, photo and video voyeurism, computer fraud, and unjust vexation.
Cybercriminals are also exploiting emerging technologies such as NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and online casinos to defraud victims.
Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and its private partner Mozark have launched a new system called the Consumer Application Monitoring Systems (CAMS) to help consumers and app operators monitor the performance of their apps.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 15, 2023
