Globe Telecom said it has barred from its network a total of 995 mobile numbers for sending unsolicited promotional materials sent through text messages, more commonly known as text spams.
The figure, which was posted from January to April, is 33-percent higher than the total mobile numbers blocked from the network for the whole of 2013.
For the first four months of 2014, the number of blocked numbers due to reported spamming activities increased by an average of 450 percent from a year ago.
In June, Globe stepped up its campaign versus text spams by making it easier for customers to report such annoying messages.
Specifically, the mobile operator has made available on a Globe Web page a channel through which its customers can report text spams and text scams alike.
Numbers that are reported for the first time as the source of text spams are sent warnings. If the same numbers are reported for the second time due to text spams, these are immediately blocked from the network.
Aside from deactivating mobile numbers used in sending text spams, Globe has been reporting spamming cases to the NTC. Globe has asked assistance from the National Telecommunications Commission to impose sanctions against spammers through fines and penalties for sending unsolicited texts to Globe subscribers.
Aside from the Globe channels, customers can also keep themselves from getting text spams through their own devices.
iOS users may block unwanted numbers by opening the message, clicking the Contact button at the right hand corner, clicking the “i” next to the number they wish to block. They can then scroll down to the bottom of the page where they will see the option “Block this caller” and then click to confirm.
For Android users, subscribers may block spam through their gadget’s filtering settings: Go to Settings, press the Spam Message Settings, click “Add to Spam Numbers” and add spammers’ numbers. They may also choose to actively block by inputting commonly used spam phrases and adding it to the “Add to Spam Phrases” list.
