Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to intensify their efforts against scammers and the sale of pre-registered SIM cards.
He warned that these SIMs are being used in online scams and financial crimes, especially during the holiday season when more victims are targeted.
“I am calling on the NTC and DICT to use everything in their power to compel the telcos to come up with mechanisms that would identify the subscribers. You need to come up with an innovative solution. We cannot allow this to continue. The law is already there,” Gatchalian said.
The senator showed photos of pre-registered SIMs being sold on Facebook and Shopee during a Senate hearing. As one of the authors of the SIM Registration Act, he said the law’s purpose—to help authorities trace scammers—has been undermined by the illegal sale of SIMs.
He also reminded the public to stay alert against scams by verifying websites and charities, avoiding unsolicited messages, and protecting personal information.
Abc