Globe fighting text ad spam

MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom Inc is strengthening its campaign against companies that use unsolicited text advertisements – text spam – as a marketing strategy.

Globe’s crackdown follows an information drive to educate subscribers on how to deal with text spam.

The information drive, Globe said, led to the deactivation of 384 mobile numbers as of April, some 11% higher than the total number of mobile users blocked from the network for all of 2013.

Globe is also pushing for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to impose sanctions against Caritas Shield Inc. for sending text spam to Globe subscribers.

Globe added the company also filed a compaint before the NTC to permanently bar Caritas and its agents and employees from sending spam texts to Globe customers.

According to Globe, Caritas sends text advertisements to subscribers around 5 to 10 times a day. The telecoms company added that the spam adversely effects its reputation, and adds to the complaints that have to be fielded by its customer service department.

Spam messages tend to be sent by prepaid numbers, making them untraceable and easily disposable. Spammers also don’t need specific numbers, making use of USB GSM modems to send advertising messages to specific number ranges.

Legitimate texts approved by the regulating agency are properly identified. They also do not use 11-digit numbers.

“The clamor of customers to combat spam messages has become a matter of public interest so the NTC should use all its disciplinary powers against spammers like Caritas,” Globe said in its complaint. – Rappler.com