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Government security forces raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31, 2024 alleged to be an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News



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Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17320591432811732059139828.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Government security forces raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31, 2024 alleged to be an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="87bh7" data-offset-key="2gni6-0-0" id="isPasted"><div data-offset-key="2gni6-0-0"></div></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Wednesday that it had shut down 11 scam hubs in the Philippines as part of its efforts to combat fraudulent digital operations.</p><p>“The CICC [Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center] has managed to apprehend 11 scam hubs both illegal and both legal. This is in cooperation with various law enforcement agencies such as PNP and NBI,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the agency’s budget sponsor. </p><p>The senator explained that such operations were made possible through advanced detection technologies and public reporting channels. </p><p>“As for the methodology, the department is requesting an executive session for what type of technology that they are using in particular. But they have the technology to detect,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/31/pogo-raid-in-bataan-2019">IN PHOTOS: Authorities raid alleged scam hub in Bataan</a></div><p>The government’s fight against text scams also saw progress, with 2.2 billion fraudulent SMS messages blocked, 2.3 million SIM cards deactivated, and almost 10.8 million numbers blacklisted, according to data from the NTC presented by Gatchalian.</p><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros lauded the initiatives, saying, “It’s good to know na meron na ganitong mabubungang pagkilos ang CICC.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/4/pnp-says-raid-on-malate-scam-hub-legitimate-despite-paocc-s-criticism-1614">PNP says raid on alleged Malate scam hub legitimate despite PAOCC’s criticism</a></div><p>Gatchalian added that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued stricter directives to telecommunications companies regarding SIM card issuance. </p><p>They are now required to implement advanced identity verification technologies, such as selfie capture, facial recognition, and limited retries for ID submissions.</p><p>“The NTC is also doing its share to make sure that type of text blast or spam as we call it will be reduced. But admittedly, there’s much to be done,” Gatchalian said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/27/solons-grill-globe-after-id-with-cat-photo-used-for-sim-card-registration-1741">Solons grill Globe after ID with cat photo used for SIM card registration</a><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/2/text-scams-continue-despite-sim-registration-dict-admits-1941">Text scams continue despite SIM registration, DICT admits</a></span></div><p>This came in response to findings by the NBI Cybercrime Division in 2023, which exposed loopholes in the SIM registration process. The NBI revealed that it was possible to fake identities and register SIM cards using unverifiable details—including a photo of a monkey as proof of identity. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/11/10/cicc-report-scams-to-government-instead-of-ranting-on-social-media-951">CICC: Report scams to 1326 hotline instead of ‘ranting on social media’</a></div><div><strong>FREE PUBLIC WIFI</strong></div><p>The Senate session touched on expanding public broadband services to bridge the digital divide. Gatchalian announced a P5 billion budget increase for the Free Public Internet Access Program. </p><p>“It’s very difficult for education centers to go into online learning or distance learning without access to the internet. Seeing that need, we increased the budget allocation for free public WiFi from P2.5 billion to P7.5 billion for this coming 2025,” said Gatchalian.</p><p>Hontiveros said, &quot;Good to hear na for starters, tini-triple natin ang budget para sa item na &#x27;yan.&quot;</p><p>When asked by Hontiveros for measures to ensure internet access for disadvantaged households, Gatchalian noted two major projects spearheaded by the agency.</p><p>“One is the fiber optic backbone that is being rolled out by DICT… other one is Free Public Internet Access Program. By increasing the budget, the aim there is to increase the access points and increase locations to areas where students and also committees don’t have access to internet,” Gatchalian said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/6/3/dict-eyes-to-expand-free-wifi-program-to-40-million-by-2028-1638">DICT eyes to expand free WiFi program to 40 million by 2028</a></div><p>A fiber optic backbone is a system of cables that connects different locations. Gatchalian said it would provide &quot;lower cost&quot; options for local and national agencies and reach underserved areas.</p><p>The Free Wi-Fi for All Program is an initiative under the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.</p>

<p>The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Wednesday that it had shut down 11 scam hubs in the Philippines as part of its efforts to combat fraudulent digital operations.</p>

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Wednesday that it had shut down 11 scam hubs in the Philippines as part of its efforts to combat fraudulent digital operations.

11 scam hubs closed, 2 billion SMS blocked in DICT crackdown

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11 scam hubs closed, 2 billion SMS blocked in DICT crackdown

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 20, 2024 07:47 AM PHT

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