MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued a warning to the public about “text hijacking,” a scheme used to deliver smishing attacks through named SMS Sender IDs, aiming to deceive individuals into sharing sensitive information.
Text hijacking is executed through International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, devices that mimic cellular towers by broadcasting a stronger signal to intercept mobile connections. Once a mobile device connects, fraudsters can send malicious text messages or phishing links designed to compromise personal data.
The BSP assured the public that it is working closely with BSP-Supervised Financial Institutions (BSFIs) and other stakeholders to address and mitigate the risks associated with text hijacking.