Telecoms forced to block fraudulent international calls starting tomorrow

Two new measures included in the ministerial order aimed at strengthening user security against identity theft fraud via phone calls and SMS text messages will come into effect tomorrow, June 7.

Since March 7, when the Government's Plan against this type of telephone scam came into effect, operators such as Telefónica, Masorange, Vodafone, and Digi have been required to block numbers that do not correspond to any user or service. In the first two months of its implementation, they are blocking an average of 235,600 calls and 10,000 text messages per day. Ninety-two days have passed since March 7, which means that more than 21 million calls and more than 900,000 text messages will have been blocked during this period.

Fake domestic calls

Starting tomorrow, telecom companies will also be required to block calls and text messages originating internationally but pretending to be from a Spanish number to deceive the recipient— one of the most common practices in attempted phone fraud.

Furthermore, scams often occur when the user receives a call from an unfamiliar cell phone . For this reason, the ministerial order includes a measure to help users more clearly identify commercial calls.

Prohibition of commercial calls from a mobile number

Starting tomorrow, business calls cannot be made from mobile numbers. They can only be made using geographic numbers, numbers specifically assigned for business communications, or from 800 and 900 numbers. These numbers will no longer be restricted exclusively to receiving calls, but will also allow calls to be made.

CNMC database

The latest measure to come into effect is the creation of an official database containing the alphanumeric codes used by companies and public administrations as identifiers in SMS messages.

This obligation applies only to SMS messages in which the sender identifies themselves with a code or alphanumeric label instead of a number, such as "CORREOS" or "C.MADRID" (for health information about the Madrid region).

Scammers create other similar tags to gain citizens' trust. These codes will be registered and verified in a new database to be created by the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). Codes or tags not registered in this database will be blocked. However, it will take 15 months—until May 2026— before it comes into effect, as the CNMC needs that time to create the database and connect it with telecom companies.