Text scams are still received by 94.6% of registered SIM owners, according to a survey done by the Computer Professionals Union. This is despite the fact that a year has passed since the compulsory registration of all SIM Cards was implemented.

It will be recalled that the government peddled SIM Registration as a solution to text scams and other cybercrimes. This was the first law signed by Marcos, despite being denounced as an instrument for mass surveillance against the people.

In the group’s survey of 800 respondents, text scammers still bypass almost all registered SIMs. Of the respondents who regularly receive text scams, 29.8% are victimized by phishing scams, theft of personal information or money, or get viruses on their devices. A large number of scam victims or 74% receive no proper response from the state and the telecommunications companies.

The survey said 97.1% of respondents agreed that the SIM Registration Law is a failure.

“Requiring everyone to register their SIMs has not stopped scams,” CPU said. “In fact, the government itself has reported that cybercrimes have gone up by 22% in the first quarter of 2024.”

The group again criticized the forced registration which it said only made Filipinos more vulnerable to scams. It called for the junking of the law and demanded for a real solution to its root causes.