Globe Telecom announced it blocked over 32.2 million scam and spam text messages with clickable links in two weeks.

This figure covers September 28, when Globe Telecom started enforcing the stringent measure to block all person-to-person SMS with URLs, until October 13. This means Globe blocked 2.4 million SMS with clickable links on average every day within that period.

“The amount of text messages with clickable links we blocked within about two weeks shows the staggering number of spam and scam SMS that disrupt and threaten customers every day,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe’s Chief Information Security Officer.

Globe Telecom started blocking SMS with clickable URLs in the last week of September in response to growing concern over escalating spam and scam messages, particularly those containing mobile users’ full names.

The measure is a first in the industry, making Globe the first and only telco proactively blocking all person-to-person SMS with clickable links. It will remain in effect until the SIM Registration Act is implemented.

Globe Telecom has logged a new record in blocked spam and scam messages, totalling 1.3 billion from January to end September. This exceeds the 2021 full year (January to December) total of 1.15 billion.

The monthly total of blocked SMS has also seen a steep rise of 295.74 percent over 9 months, from 68.34 million in January to 270.5 million in September.

Globe has spent $20 million or P1.1 billion to date to step up its spam and scam SMS detection and blocking system. Its Security Operations Center works to filter out these unwanted messages, including app-to-person and person-to-person SMS of international and domestic sources.

Earlier this year, Globe released an instructional video on Facebook to teach Android users how to install spam filters on their devices.