Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Millions of calls from abroad to be blocked under new crackdown

BT already prevents up to one million calls per day

Josie Clarke
Monday 29 July 2024 11:13 BST
Related video: Robocalls use different tactics to scam younger targets

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Millions more calls from abroad, which use spoofed UK landline numbers, are to be blocked under a new crackdown.

Companies will now have to identify and block calls from abroad which falsely display a UK telephone number as a “presentation number” under strengthened guidance from Ofcom.

A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate or “spoof” phone numbers from a trusted person, organisation, or government department, so their calls are more likely to be answered.

Fraudsters based abroad often spoof UK numbers, knowing people are more likely to answer them than if an unknown international number is displayed.

Ofcom said evidence suggested that the new blocking measures would have a significant impact on protecting the public from scam calls.

BT had already prevented up to one million calls per day from entering its network within the first month of implementing the measures on a voluntary basis, and Ofcom said its guidance would ensure it became standard practice across the industry.

A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate or ‘spoof’ phone numbers from a trusted person (PA)
A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate or ‘spoof’ phone numbers from a trusted person (PA) (PA Wire)

The regulator is also seeking views on the effectiveness, costs, risks and timescales of different technical solutions to tackle scam calls from abroad which spoof UK mobile numbers.

Its current rules do not require operators to block all calls from abroad with +447 numbers in order to ensure that genuine calls from UK callers roaming abroad get through.

Ofcom’s latest research shows many consumers are still receiving suspicious calls and texts, but there are signs of a decline, it said.

In 2024, just under half of UK landline users (48%) said they had received a suspicious call in the last three months, down from 56% in 2021.

Mobile users also reported a decrease in receiving suspicious calls, from 45% to 39% over the same period.

Mobile users are most likely to receive a suspicious text message, although this has also fallen from 74% in 2021 to 56% in 2024.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “Criminals who defraud people by exploiting phone networks cause huge distress and financial harm to their victims.

“While there’s encouraging signs that scam calls and texts are declining, they remain widespread and we’re keeping our foot to the throttle to find new and innovative ways to tackle the problem.

“Under our strengthened industry guidance, millions more scam calls from abroad which use spoofed UK landline numbers will be blocked, with similar plans underway for calls which spoof UK mobile numbers.

“We’re also challenging the industry and other interested parties to provide evidence on the best solutions to tackle mobile messaging scams.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in