This Tuesday, July 25, 2023, marks the final day of the mandatory SIM registration set by the government after the SIM card law was passed in September 2022.
Keeping this in mind, both actress Kiray Celis and ABS-CBN news reporter Gretchen Fullido are passionately urging their followers to register their mobile numbers.
As Globe's SIM card registration ambassadors, they consider this a vital step in protecting against scams and spam messages.
During a virtual press launch held last Thursday, July 20, 2023, Kiray related a personal experience wherein her mom Meriam Celis nearly became a victim of a phishing scam.
Read: Kiray Celis proudly declares: “Mukhang pera ang mama ko.”
This incident greatly inspired her to motivate others to register their SIM cards as a precautionary step and protect themselves from such threats.
Kiray recalled, "Naganyan na po yung mama ko, may tumawag ko sa kanya, pinapa-send yung OTP.
"Kaya po talagang sa mga matatanda po, lagi ko sinasabi, very nakaka-relate po talaga ako kasi nga yung mama at papa ko po talaga...
"Dyuskolord, masakit sa ulit po."
Luckily, the scammer was unable to proceed with the fraudulent scheme targeting her mom.
Nevertheless, when her mom informed her about the incident, Kiray promptly provided her with essential guidelines to ensure that such a situation is avoided in the future, especially considering their joint bank account.
She told the press, "E, siyempre si Mama po, wala naman kung masyado gaano nga pong alam sa social media.
"Recent nga lang po yung natuto mag-text sa wala na pong keypad. Ganon po kalala si Mama. Talagang lumang tao talaga siya.
"Kaya po, nung may tumawag ko sa kanya for the OTP, buti na lang, medyo nagsi-choppy yung tawag."
Kiray continued, "Kaya nung sinabi po niya at kinuwento niya sa mga kapatid ko, pati sa akin, [sabi namin], 'Nako, huwag na huwag ka magbigay!'
"Kasi po yung bank account... kasi joint account po kami ni Mama, e. Kaya po talagang nakakaloka.
"So yun, tinuruan namin siya na huwag magbigay kahit na anong tawag or text. Basta hindi kami yung tumawag, hindi kami yung nag-text.
"Kahit sino pa yan. Kahit pa nga, minsan nga po kami. Kasi baka sinabi namin kay mama na baka kami yung nahack, tinext ka namin, mag-reply ka.
"Basta siguradong huwag lang magbigay unless siya lang po yung may kailangan."
ON ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO REGISTER
Kiray acknowledges that there are many Filipinos, like her mom, who are not well-versed in digital matters.
This is why she is urging the younger generation or those knowledgeable in technology to step up and guide others.
She said, "Marami pa rin kasi tayong mga kababayan kagaya ng papa ko and mama ko na hindi gaano marunong pa mag-Facebook, wala masyadong social media.
"And ngayon siguro dahil hindi na rin po uso yung mga TV-TV, puro nuod na lang ng mga series. Parang lagi na lang po tayong ganon.
"And I think sa mga bahay po na mas ahead, or nakakaalam and mas mahaba yung pagkakaalam sa social media and mas nakakapanood, tulungan natin yung kasama po natin sa bahay.
"Yung pamilya natin, yung mga kamag-anak na makapag-register po talaga."
GRETCHEN'S REMINDER
Gretchen—who candidly admitted to falling victim to a scam and losing a substantial amount of money during the pandemic while buying plants—also concurred with Kiray's sentiments.
The Kapamilya showbiz reporter said, "So, what we can do for our part is to educate them of the gravity of their actions.
"If they don't register their SIM, it will be deactivated and siyempre, they will lose everything that is connected to their mobile SIM number.
"So, why risk it, di ba? So let's help them..."
In addition, Gretchen also emphasized that mobile users who do not register their numbers would lose access to every application where they utilized their numbers, including digital wallet apps.
She reiterated the need for SIM registration and said, "In our own little way, in our own circle tulungan natin yung mga hindi masiyadong techie at tulungan natin kung paano mag-register ng SIM and payuhan natin sila.
"If hindi nila tayo trust, they can go to any Globe service or office and magpatulong sila.
"Because kailangan talaga, e, you need to register your SIM and make sure hindi ito magamit ng iba because your number is your identity."
READ MORE:
- Kiray Celis on why she transferred to GMA-7 in 2018: “Wala na akong work.”
- Kiray Celis airs frustration about being a performer following Jovit Baldivino's death
- Kiray Celis opens up about tiff with Mystica in 2020: “Ayaw niya akong kasama.”
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