Camille Naredo

The facade of the PLDT building in Makati on May 09, 2019.

The facade of the PLDT building in Makati on May 09, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PLDT

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176840267688120190509-pldt-results-briefing-GC-7631.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The facade of the PLDT building in Makati on May 09, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>The facade of the PLDT building in Makati on May 09, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Telco giant PLDT is fighting a new scam method which uses fake cell sites and has victimized many Filipinos. However, they cannot fully shut down the 2G signal just yet.PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Butch Jimenez said they are using technology to locate or monitor these so-called fake cell sites or fake base stations. These are devices that utilize the 2G signal and intercept mobile traffic, affecting mobile phone users nearby.The people using this fake cell site then send messages telling users they won something or that they need to send their bank account details. Jimenez said these are scammers who will try to steal money from users’ bank accounts or e-wallet. “They use fake base stations and these base stations are small devices in a backpack, so they will walk inside the mall. They will see if a provider, whether it&#x27;s us, Globe or whoever, have a 2G site. It&#x27;s the 2G signal they can hijack,” he added.Jimenez said they are now working with tech vendors to do the triangulation method to see if there is an active fake cell site in a mall or in any area. When prompted, they can report to authorities to check the said area. He admitted the exact location may not be known, but it can detect the area where the crime is happening. “We&#x27;re going to go in the platform and the intelligence so that we will see in our network center there is a fake base station happening in this specific area,” he said.Jimenez added that these devices use 2G signal.however they cannot shut it down just yet because many are still using the 2G signal. One of the major users is banks, since ATMs still rely on 2G. Disaster-and-emergency-related operations also rely on 2G.He said they are working now with banks and other companies so they can shift from 2G to 4G. He is hopeful they may be able to shut down 2G by the end of the year.<div>  </div>

Telco giant PLDT is fighting a new scam method which uses fake cell sites and has victimized many Filipinos. However, he said they cannot fully shut down the 2G signal just yet.

Telco giant PLDT is fighting a new scam method which uses fake cell sites and has victimized many Filipinos. However, he said they cannot fully shut down the 2G signal just yet.

PLDT goes after fake cell sites; telco can't shut down 2G just yet

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PLDT goes after fake cell sites; telco can't shut down 2G just yet

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 15, 2026 12:18 AM PHT

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Fake cell sites

Fake base stations

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