INCIDENCE of SIM (subscriber identity module) card-aided crimes nearly tripled during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year before the implementation of the SIM Card Registration Act.
Data from the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) showed that from January to June this year, the number of financial crimes and online scams that were reported to the police reached 4,104, up from only 1,415 during the same period in 2022.
Almost all SIM card-related crimes were online scams involving electronic wallet apps such as GCash, PayMaya and Coins.ph.
A total of 3,587 of these crimes were perpetrated using GCash, 49 with PayMaya and four with Coins.ph.
Based on the same report, 445 of these SIM card-aided crimes involved bank frauds, while 18 were text scams.
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The PNP-ACG said 3,422 of these reported cases involving GCash as the platform used have been solved, with 29 of these having been filed before the courts.
On the other hand, out of the 49 cases where criminals used PayMaya as their platform, 47 have been solved.
Meanwhile, police consider 410 cases involving bank frauds solved with 35 still under investigation.
The PNP-ACG report was issued just days before the July 25 deadline for SIM card registration set by the national government.
The SIM Card Registration Act, which took effect in December 2022, requires all mobile phone users to register their SIM cards with their personal information, including their name, address and government ID number.
Data from the National Telecommunications Commission showed that from Dec. 27, 2022 to July 6, 2023, there were 102,062,372 registered SIM cards, or a total of 168,016,400 SIMs sold in the country.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been actively promoting awareness of the SIM Card Registration Act and encouraging people to register their SIM cards.
The DICT has also been collaborating with telecommunications companies to streamline and simplify the registration process.
It said the SIM Card Registration Act is a crucial step toward creating a safer and more secure Philippines.
The department pointed out that by registering their SIM cards, mobile phone or cellphone users can safeguard themselves against fraud and other crimes.
It can also help ensure that their phones are not used for illegal activities.
