Globe launches Share-A-Load validation message to stop scams

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom implemented this week a new process for Share-A-Load transactions to prevent its customers from unwittingly falling into text scams that ask them to send load.

Customers doing a Share-A-Load or a Share-A-Promo transaction will be asked to confirm their transactions with a validation message that reads as follows: “You are about to share PXXX load with 0916XXXXXXX. Reply YES within five minutes to proceed. P1/transaction. Report text scams to www.globe.com.ph/stopspam.” 

Customers who fail to reply within five minutes will receive the following message: "We're sorry, but your Share-A-Load/Promo transaction has been canceled because the response time exceeded 5 minutes. Please try again. Thanks!"

Globe said the validation message would come from 2652xxxxxxxxx where the last nine digits are the transaction number. Replying to the message is free of charge. 

“We want to continuously protect our customers against these scams. By putting in place this additional measure, we would help prevent our customers from unwittingly undertaking Share-A-Load transactions,” said Globe Senior Vice-President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto. She said that even with widespread communication efforts, some customers are still unaware that by adding the number “2” before the 10-digit mobile number of the recipient, they are actually doing a Share-A-Load transaction.

Last month, the telecom reduced the amount of Share-A-Load transaction to a maximum of P150 for prepaid customers and P300 for postpaid customers to counter text scams asking for P500 Share-A-Load transactions. Text scam messages are varying everyday using spiels like rewards, loyalty, MSF discount, roaming and bill overcharge, waiver of charges, refunds, etc., Globe said.

Crisanto urged Globe customers to immediately report text scams at http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam and provide all the details required. Numbers that are reported as source of text scams will be immediately blocked from the network. Globe said the number of reports using the website has reached over 42,000 since it was created in June 2014.