Ofgem tells phone networks told to block spoof numbers after boom in scam calls

Landline and mobile phone providers have been told to tighten up controls on the calls they forward to their customers following an explosion of scammers using bogus numbers.

Industry regulator Ofcom said phone companies need to better protect customers as scam calls and text messages have become a “significant” source of fraud.

Three-quarters of people in the UK, or nearly 41 million, are estimated to have received “suspicious” phone calls or texts in the past three months, the watchdog added.

Some 700,000 Brits answered fraud calls this summer, as criminals have become more sophisticated at impersonating UK phone numbers of legitimate organisations, such as banks and government departments.

“If a call to a mobile or landline phone seems trustworthy, people are more likely to answer it and follow the scammers’ instructions,” Ofcom said.

To help combat this problem, telephone providers must identify and block calls from abroad that incorrectly use UK numbers and ensure that all numbers conform to the UK’s 10 or 11 digit format.

Ofcom admitted that it is currently ‘technically not feasible to identify all spoofed numbers, particularly where the caller is spoofing a valid number’, but said providers could take steps to block certain suspicious numbers.

Companies have until May next year to make technical changes necessary to comply with the new rules.

Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, Lindsey Fussell, said scam calls posed a “clear and present” danger to any phone user.

“Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and it’s easy to get caught by scams,” she added.

“Blocking fake numbers can have major consequences, so we’re making sure all phone companies apply this protection to their customers.”

Some phone providers have already made these changes voluntarily, with TalkTalk reporting a 65 percent reduction in scam call complaints since the change was made.

The watchdog also updated its guidelines on how phone companies can prevent scammers from accessing valid phone numbers.

Businesses should ensure they carry out ‘know your customer’ checks on corporate customers, for example by checking the Companies House register, fraud risk databases and the Financial Conduct Authority’s warning list.

Ofcom said: ‘Ensuring that the CLI (calling line identification) data contains a valid, dialable number and that the caller has authority to use the number is important so that people have accurate information about who is calling when they call. receive. .

“This can help them decide whether or not to answer the call.”