Philippine operators unveil anti-scam push with GSMA

Globe Telecom, PLDT/Smart and DITO Telecommunity have outlined new anti-scam measures for the Philippine mobile market, as fraud concerns weigh on confidence in the country's growing digital economy.

The operators detailed work under way on network protection, transaction security and earlier scam detection alongside the GSMA, which is coordinating broader efforts across ASEAN. In the Philippines, that includes a GSMA Foundry proof of concept with Globe to test whether network data and signals can help identify possible scam activity sooner.

The push comes amid high consumer anxiety about fraud. According to the GSMA ASEAN Consumer Scam Report 2026, 76% of Filipino consumers surveyed said they "absolutely worry" about being scammed, while 62% said scam concerns had led them to avoid contact or transactions.

Those figures point to a broader challenge for the Philippines as more services move online. The GSMA's Digital Nations Index 2026 ranked the country joint third among 11 ASEAN markets, suggesting solid digital progress but also a growing need to maintain trust as consumers, businesses and public services become more connected.

Three areas

The anti-scam work described by the operators and the GSMA centres on three areas. The first is network protection through practical prevention, detection and response measures under the GSMA United Against Scams Playbook.

The second is protecting digital transactions. Globe, Smart and DITO are backing work on GSMA Open Gateway tools designed to help businesses with identity verification and authentication during online transactions.

The third is earlier intervention. Across ASEAN, the industry group is working with mobile operators to assess whether network data and signals could help flag possible scam activity before consumers are harmed, and whether those signals could support action elsewhere in the digital system.

In the Philippines, Globe is participating through the current proof of concept. The effort reflects a broader attempt by operators to move beyond blocking suspicious activity on their own networks and towards sharing signals that could help other parts of the digital economy respond faster.

Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific, GSMA, said: "The Philippines has real digital momentum, but sustaining that progress depends on trust. Scams move across communications channels, digital platforms and payment systems, so protecting consumers requires action across the digital ecosystem.

"Mobile operators have capabilities that can make a real difference. In the Philippines, we are bringing operators together to strengthen protection in the network and make digital transactions safer. Across ASEAN, we are also working with operators to explore whether network signals can help identify scam activity earlier and enable action elsewhere in the digital ecosystem before consumers are harmed. The priority now is to turn these capabilities into practical solutions that better protect consumers."

Industry role

The measures highlight the role telecoms groups are seeking in fraud prevention as scams increasingly cut across messaging, calls, apps, social platforms and payments. Rather than relying only on customer warnings or after-the-fact enforcement, the approach set out here places more weight on network-level checks and transaction verification.

For operators, that could also create closer ties with banks, online platforms, merchants and public bodies that rely on mobile numbers and network authentication as part of digital services. The next stage is to develop practical use cases for the Open Gateway work and build adoption among enterprises and government bodies.

The emphasis on implementation suggests the industry sees a gap between technical options already available in telecoms networks and their day-to-day use in fraud prevention. While details of specific services were not disclosed, the focus on identity verification and authentication indicates mobile operators are positioning themselves as part of the infrastructure used to confirm whether a transaction or user is legitimate.

That matters in a market where trust can directly affect digital uptake. If large numbers of consumers avoid answering messages, taking calls or completing transactions because they fear scams, the impact extends beyond telecoms to eCommerce, financial services and digital public services.

The alignment of Philippine operators on the issue is also notable in a competitive market, because scam prevention often requires shared standards and common approaches to be effective. The GSMA's regional work in ASEAN points to a similar conclusion at a cross-border level, where scam activity can move quickly between jurisdictions and platforms.

The country's position in the regional digital index and the level of reported scam concern help explain why anti-fraud measures are becoming a strategic issue for telecoms companies, not just a compliance matter. For the operators involved, the immediate task is to turn network protection, transaction checks and data-led detection into systems that consumers and businesses actually use.