Globe Launches SMS Scam Shield to Combat Text-Based Phishing Threats

Globe has introduced an SMS Scam Shield feature within its GlobeOne app aimed at shielding subscribers from a rising number of text-based scams, especially phishing attempts masquerading as legitimate Globe or GCash communications. Initially rolled out for Android users, this new functionality reinforces Globe's commitment to safeguarding customers against increasingly complex fraud schemes.

Phishing and spoofing attacks frequently imitate trusted organizations such as telecommunications providers, financial institutions, or digital wallet services, tricking recipients into clicking harmful links or divulging private information. Recently, scammers have escalated their tactics by employing illicit devices like IMSI catchers, which imitate cell towers to disseminate fraudulent messages broadly.

"SMS Scam Shield is designed to give our customers more control and peace of mind," stated Coco Domingo, Globe's Vice President for Product Experience. "By alerting users to suspicious texts containing potentially malicious links or counterfeit Globe-related sender IDs, we're working to create a safer digital environment for our subscribers."

Once enabled via the GlobeOne app, Scam Shield analyzes messages locally on the device and notifies users if a text is deemed suspicious. It identifies fraudulent sender names such as "GLOBE," "GLOBEREWARD," and "GCASH," and intercepts phishing links before they reach the user. Globe has emphasized that this feature prioritizes user privacy by neither storing nor reading message content, collecting only malicious URLs to enhance threat detection algorithms.

The feature has gained rapid adoption, with over 34,000 users activating Scam Shield and more than 13,000 phishing attempts detected within weeks of its launch.

Available at no cost to Globe subscribers, the feature can be activated through the "Profile" and "Security Settings" sections of the GlobeOne app. Subscribers are also encouraged to participate in Globe's community reporting initiative by forwarding suspicious messages to www.globe.com.ph/stop-spam.

SMS Scam Shield is part of Globe's broader cybersecurity strategy, paving the way for more advanced, AI-driven protections across its platforms.

"Security shouldn't be an afterthought'', Domingo added. "This is just the beginning of more proactive tools we're integrating to safeguard our customers."