You are having a normal day, moving with life’s flow. You’ve brewed coffee, prepared a small but delectable meal, and settled in to work at your computer. Then, out of nowhere, you receive a text notification — another one of those SMS scams.
The contact number appears to be a jumble of digits, as if randomly generated by a system.
The message reads: “Daily Fortune Wheel! 1 M prizes daily! Visit ps88club.com, send STOP8080 to 225678 to opt-out.“
The thing is, you have never been involved in gambling — not even once in your life. That’s when you realize you’ve just received a scam message.
SMS scams involving fake casino winnings and gambling bets are among the top issues every Filipino citizen faces. This became much more prevalent during the early 2020s, when the shift to online and remote work became near-universal.
It is not only through SMS scams that unscrupulous individuals send these messages; social media and messaging apps like Messenger and Viber are also popular mediums for such unscrupulous acts.
Surge in malicious links puts Filipinos at risk
IMAGE CREDIT: Freepik
Based on data gathered by Whoscall last year, malicious links sent via platforms such as Facebook, Viber, and Telegram soared from 13,602 in the first quarter to 18,735 in the second. Clicking these suspicious links makes users vulnerable to data breaches, threatening both personal and financial data.
The worst part: it is all being done silently.
Filipinos often do not know their data has been compromised until it is too late. They may think a message is legitimate, only to find out a scammer has already gained access to their finances.
Personally, I receive such messages almost daily. Fortunately, I am vigilant enough to know they should not be touched with a ten-foot pole. However, my father fell victim to one of these scams. I still remember his frustration and regret; since then, I have tried my best to educate my parents on being more cautious in their online activities.
With that said, the questions remain: how did these messages spread to millions of Filipinos, and who is behind them?
How do gambling SMS scams spread?
IMAGE CREDIT: Freepik
SMS smishing and random number generators: Scammers use automated software to blast messages to thousands of random phone numbers or use databases purchased from illicit sources, particularly targeting users of online payment apps.
Text spoofing and hijacking: Scammers use software to make messages appear as if they come from legitimate banks, government agencies, or brands, sometimes even inserting them into existing, legitimate conversation threads.
Messaging apps and social media: Platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger are used to reach users directly, often posing as influencers or partners offering “investment opportunities.”
Fake app distribution: Fraudulent gambling apps are distributed via third-party websites or direct links, sidestepping the security checks of official app stores.
Phishing and social engineering: Scammers use high-pressure tactics, such as claiming a user has won a prize or that their account has been hacked, to entice them to click malicious links.
Who is behind the scheme?
IMAGE CREDIT: Freepik
While it is difficult to point to a single actor, one notable entity is frequently involved: the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
In the Philippines, scam centers have often been disguised as online gambling operations. These are frequently run by foreign nationals. While over 60,000 people work for licensed providers, it is estimated that as many as 100,000 could be employed by illegal ones.
Over the years, government raids against illegal POGOs have been a primary measure to curb the spread of these scams.
The situation became so intense that in July 2024, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered a total ban on POGOs. Since then, gambling scam messages have begun to dwindle, aided by the implementation of the SIM Card Registration Act.
The future
While these heinous acts have fortunately decreased thanks to government efforts, the threat has not vanished. Experts warn against the emerging threat of AI in cybercrime. As AI advances to the point of replicating human thinking, it may lead to a new wave of even more convincing scams.
Perhaps, on a personal note, it is a prophecy being fulfilled. Daniel 12:4 states that “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” As human knowledge increases, so do the methods criminals use. Sooner or later, they may find ways to operate in a “truly silent way.”
