CICC Alerts Public to Beware of Paid SIM Registration Scams on Social Media

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has issued a warning to the public about the dangers of using paid SIM registration services advertised on social media platforms. CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos highlighted the rise of questionable social media accounts that charge a small fee for SIM registration services. Ramos cautioned that these third-party services could misuse personal information provided during the registration process. He emphasized that the SIM registration procedure is straightforward and does not require the services of a third party, urging individuals not to fall for these deceptive offers. Ramos advised mobile users to personally register their SIM cards with their service providers, using government-issued ID and a selfie for verification. A specific example mentioned was a social media page named “DITO Telecommunity Corporation,” which was offering paid SIM registration. However, the actual mobile service provider, DITO, clarified that they were not associated with this account. The SIM Registration Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 10, 2022, and effective from December 27, 2022, mandates this registration. As of July 30, 2023, statistics show that 113,969,014 out of the 168,016,400 SIM cards in circulation have been registered.