Text scams now have subscriber's name; public warned vs. oversharing info

Scam text messages remain rampant and some now have the names of subscribers in them, according to a report by Maki Pulido on "24 Oras."

Authorities and experts reminded the public anew not to overshare personal information online and to be cautious against responding to scam texts.

Art Samaniego, a cyber security expert, said personal information of subscribers reach scammers through data breaches which are sold on the dark web.

"Eto yung mga ginagamit nila na information ngayon, so natutugma na nila yung number at meron nang pangalan na kasunod," he said.

He said this is no different from the old scam text messages that target to trick receivers into sending money or to get private information like passwords.

"Ang mga scammers, fraudsters, they send out messages in bulk, so random siya, whoever gets affected o who would respond, 'yun ang nagiging victim," said Police Lieutenant Michelle Sabino, head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.

The police officials said that as long as there is no law on the registration of SIM cards in the country, investigators will always face a dead end because scammers use prepaid cards.

"Even if we get the warrant to disclose computer data, magiging dead end because we wouldn't have the information and we need the identity of the person bago kami makapag-file ng case sa court."—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA News