The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warned the banking public on Wednesday against unsolicited mobile-phone messages purportedly coming from banks offering loans and other marketing ploys.
The BSP under top honcho Amando M. Tetangco Jr. himself said such offers are prohibited by law and that such should not be sent by anyone without the consent of the recipient.
“Banks may only be allowed to send advertisements, loan offers or marketing through text message if you requested your bank or mobile phone network to do so,” the BSP said.
If one receives an unsolicited text message, one should take appropriate action.
“Store the text message and number of sender, file a complaint before the National Telecommunications Commission [NTC] by accomplishing a complaint page and report the incident to the bank involved,” Tetangco said.
The advisory on Wednesday, the central bank said, was in response to complaints and inquiries.
“The Cybercrime Prevention Act, or RA [Republic Act] 10175 criminalizes the transmission of commercial electronic communication with the use of computer systems which seeks to advertise, sell or offer for sale products and services unless there is prior affirmative consent from the recipient,” the BSP said.
The central bank also said the NTC prohibits networks from sending and/or initiating unsolicited text messages unless there is a written consent from the subscriber choosing to receive such advertisements through text.
The central bank previously issued a memorandum addressed to all banks and financial institutions prohibiting unsolicited text messages.
Bianca Cuaresma