On top of its efforts in pushing everyone to register their SIMs ASAP, especially with the 90-day extension period, the DICT is set to launch a new initiative called “Project: SIM Check Mo” as part of its efforts to combat cybercrime and scammers looking to victimize people.
According to a report, “Project: SIM Check Mo” will involve a text messaging service using the 1326 hotline of the DICT, where they will provide citizens to validate the partial identity and status of a phone number that’s suspected to be a scammer. According to DICT, the service can validate numbers in 10 seconds, and what citizens need to do is text SIM CHECK (11-digit phone number), then send it to 1326.
After roughly 10 seconds, the sender should receive the status of the SIM number in question (which will include if it is registered or not), the initials of the SIM owner (if registered), and remarks on whether it has good or derogatory records. In a nutshell, “Project: SIM Check Mo” works similar to LTO’s Plate Number verification service.
“The project needs to be launched ASAP and immediately while we await the expiration of the 90-day extension period for the mandatory sim registration under Republic Act 11934,” DICT Executive Director Alexander Ramos said.
The need to implement “Project: SIM Check Mo” is to keep people safe from scammers while there’s a 90-day extension period for SIM registration, which Ramos describes as a “very long and dangerous time”. The project is also in line with DICT Sec. John Ivan Uy’s priority of ensuring cyber security for the public.
