The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is advising the public to ignore calls from individuals threatening to suspend their SIM card registration which has been used in sending out messages related to unlawful activities such as illegal recruitment for work abroad, online casino and human trafficking.
CICC Executive director Alexander K. Ramos said that his office has received complaints related to an anonymous caller who would introduce herself as an employee of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and has used the name Nikki Garcia in one case.
During the conversation, the fake DICT employee or anonymous caller would inform the victim that his/her SIM has been recommended for suspension for various violations.
“We are once again appealing to the public to ignore calls from suspicious or anonymous callers “ Ramos said.
“Please be alert at all times and do not be deceived by people who pretend to be from DICT or any other government agency,” he said.
The registration of SIM or subscriber Identity Module is now mandatory under Republic Act No. 11934 which was enacted on October 10,2022 and took effect on December 27,2022.
As of July 30, 2023 (the final day after the five-day grace period), the number of SIMs registered reached 113,969,014, out of a total of 168,016,400 SIM cards in circulation.
Ramos reiterated his appeal to the public to report cybercrime incidents to the Inter Agency Response Center Hotline 1326 to prevent cybercrime.
“By reporting to authorities , you are also helping other people by preventing them from becoming future victims,” he said.
Issued by the Office of Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos
