Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is requesting an amendment to Republic Act No. 11934, citing the failure of the SIM Registration Act to effectively combat cybercrimes.
SIM Registration Failed?
The law aimed to curb cybercriminal activities, but online scamming continues. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raids on Pogos facilities yielded unused SIM cards, indicating that these operators and workers may not use them for good intentions.
In addition. Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, highlighted that some narcotics peddlers use postpaid SIM cards to conceal their identities and sell illegal goods on social media.
Rep. Barbers also mentioned the following scams that are still rampant
- phishing
- automated teller machine skimming
- identity theft
- online shopping
- lottery scams
- crowdfunding scams
- love or romance scams
- advance fee fraud
- fake websites
- SIM swap scams
- SMS phishing
- blackmail
- credit card scams
- impersonation scams
- online banking scams
- catfishing
- charity scams
- computer hacking
- investment scams
- grandparent scams
As of writing this article, we have not heard anything official from the authorities that are involved in developing this countermeasure. We sincerely hope that the government will act fast and bolster the efforts to eliminate such rampant cyber crimes.
Started his freelancing adventure in 2018 and began doing freelance Audio Engineering work and then started freelance writing a few years later.
Currently he writes for Gadget Pilipinas and Grit.PH.
He is also a musician, foody, gamer, and PC enthusiast.
