Tech
End of scam calls? UK telco’s agree to auto-block
Complaints from UK citizens being harassed with scam calls have been heard by the country’s telco giants
Britain’s major telecommunication company’s have agreed to automatically block almost all internet calls coming from abroad if they pretend to be from UK numbers, Ofcom has confirmed.
Scammers have been using internet-based calling technology to make it look like a phone call or text is coming from a real telephone number within Britain, rather than opting for a “No Caller ID”
Almost 45 million consumers were targeted by scam calls this summer.
Ofcom said it expected the measures to be introduced at pace as a “priority”.
Currently, just one telco, TalkTalk, has implemented the new plans
Other phone networks such as Vodafone are still exploring methods of making it work.
“We’ve been working with telecoms companies to implement technical solutions, including blocking at source, suspicious international calls that are masked by a UK number,”
said Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s networks and communications group director.
“We expect these measures to be introduced as a priority, and at pace, to ensure customers are better protected.”
She added tackling the phone scams issue was a “complex problem” that required a coordinated effort from the police, government, other regulators and industry.
The move follows months of discussions between Ofcom and the UK telecoms industry.