On Countering Text Scams and Spams.

A few months ago, I received this text message from an unknown number.
It read, "Your postpaid has been charged P500 for LTE use. Is this a wrong charge? Text 500 send to (2909*******) for Refund."

Just another text scam.

I knew right then and there this was a text scam - an attempt to 'extort' money through 'share-a-load transactions'. After all, I am subscribed to Globe's Unli Data Plan and there is absolutely no chance in hell (pardon the idiom) that I'd be charged extra for my supposed LTE use. Also, I'm pretty much aware that advisories from Globe do not come from 16-digit numbers such as the one above. Instead, they are labelled 'GLOBE' and appear as such on your inbox.

These text scams have become pretty rampant these days, and Globe has addressed this issue by implementing a new process where customers doing Share-A-Load transaction will be sent a validation text message.

Validation message.

Customers doing a Share-A-Load or a Share-A-Promo transaction will be asked to confirm their transactions. The step is intended to address proliferation of text scams that trick customers into doing Share-A-Load transaction without their knowledge.

The validation message reads as follows: “You are about to share PXXX load with 0916XXXXXXX. Reply YES within 5 minutes to proceed. P1/transaction. Report text scams to www.globe.com.ph/stopspam.” The validation message would come from 2652xxxxxxxxx where the last 9 digits are the transaction number. Replying to the message is free of charge. On the other hand, customers who fail to reply within 5 minutes will receive the following message: "We're sorry, but your Share-A-Load/Promo transaction has been cancelled because the response time exceeded 5 minutes. Please try again. Thanks!"

Last month, Globe reduced the amount of Share-A-Load transaction to a maximum of P150 for prepaid customers and P300 for postpaid customers to counter text scams asking for P500 Share-A-Load transactions. Text scam messages are varying everyday using spiels like rewards, loyalty, MSF discount, roaming and bill overcharge, waiver of charges, refunds, etc.

Globe urges its customers to immediately report thru http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam and provide all the details required. Numbers that are reported as source of text scams will be immediately blocked from the network. Following the telecommunication company’s intensified efforts to combat text spams and text scams early this year, the number of reports using the website has reached over 42,000 since it was created in June 2014.

Big discounts and more at Globe's Great Gadget Sale!

Celebrate summer and have fun in the sun with a new gadget in tow! Bond with your friends, capture precious moments, and stay connected with the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale where you can enjoy up to 90% off on phones and gadgets!

Choose from your favorite phone brands such as Samsung, Nokia, LG, Sony, Lenovo, Huawei, Alcatel, MyPhone, Cloudfone, Star Mobile, Gionee, DTC and Cherry at the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale with irresistible offers and packages. Whatever your budget is, there's a gadget waiting for you at one of the biggest phone sales ever to hit gadget-land.

The Great Gadget Sale!

You can also trade in your old phone – whether a Cherry Mobile, iPhone, Blackberry, Huawei, HTC, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Xperia, Cherry, or MyPhone, and pay your cash-out using your Globe Rewards points (100 points = Php100).

Avail of wonderful deals for gadgets including Nokia Lumia 625, LG G2 mini, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, Lenovo A516, MyPhone Hail, Star Mobile Diamond V3, and much more. You can also enjoy a free data plan subscription for 2 months when you purchase your gadget at the event.

Keeping you connected!

"Summertime is the perfect season to get a new gadget. For the youth and the young at heart, it is the best time to be outdoors, to plan for summer getaways, and upload photos and videos to share experiences. With the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale, getting a new phone need not be expensive. Get as much as 90% discount when you purchase your favorite phone brand by trading in your old phone and using your Globe rewards points. With Globe, enjoy the wonderful summer season with a gadget of your choice at a price that's within your easy reach," said Issa Cabreira, VP for Prepaid Business at Globe.

Head on to the TriNoma Activity Center on April 24-27, 2014 at 10am-10pm to enjoy the biggest phone deals at the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale.