Load retailers are on the frontlines of customer engagement—and increasingly, on the frontlines of fraud.
From SIM-related transactions and account inquiries to payments and load purchases, their day-to-day interactions make them prime targets for scams and social engineering tactics. Fraudsters often exploit trust, create urgency, and manipulate routine processes to gain access to sensitive customer information or bypass safeguards.
While Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to share scam advisories across digital and traditional channels, reaching busy retailers remains a challenge. Many spend long hours managing their stores and serving customers, leaving little opportunity to proactively consume educational content.
To bridge this gap, Smart brought its SCAMpaign directly to retailers in Laguna and Cavite through its CX Caravan—meeting them where they are and equipping them with practical, actionable knowledge. As valued business partners, retailers play a critical role in the ecosystem, underscoring Smart’s commitment to enable and empower them to better protect themselves against scams.
The sessions centered on real-world scam scenarios that retailers commonly encounter, including OTP phishing, fake proof-of-payment schemes, identity misuse, and other social engineering tactics. Participants were guided on how to spot red flags, follow proper verification protocols, and avoid actions that could compromise customer security.
“Madalas kaming target ng scam dahil sa dami ng transaksyon na hinahawakan namin araw-araw. Malaking tulong na dinadala mismo sa amin ang ganitong impormasyon dahil hindi naman kami laging may oras para mag-scroll sa Facebook o magbasa online,” shared Nelson, a Smart retailer from Cavite [“We are often targeted by scammers because of the volume of transactions we handle every day. It is a big help when information like this is brought directly to us, as we do not always have the time to scroll through Facebook or read updates online”].
Beyond scam awareness, the CX Caravan also delivered on-ground aftersales support, giving retailers a convenient way to raise concerns, seek assistance, and access Smart services.
The CX Caravan has previously engaged diverse communities, including medical professionals, retirees, and teachers, as part of Smart Cares — Smart’s broader commitment to customer education and community engagement, and in line with the PLDT Group’s #BeCyberSmart campaign. By complementing its digital efforts with on-ground activations, Smart continues to make scam awareness more accessible, practical, and impactful for Filipinos.
