Everyone has experienced it before: you answer the phone and the other end of the line is an automated announcement – or even worse: a con artist posing as someone else. But that should get better now. You can read what the plan is here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1-Spam calls with drastic consequences: More security is required
2-This has been the case since December 1st
3-Disadvantages of anonymized calls
4-This is how you protect yourself from telephone terror
Telephone terror has been on the rise again lately. People at home are being harassed with telemarketing calls every 30 minutes – both to landlines and smartphones. However, it becomes catastrophic when con artists sit on the other end of the line and exploit well-known numbers – such as that of Europol . One now wants to increase safety for consumers, also on the part of the providers .
SPAM CALLS WITH DRASTIC CONSEQUENCES: MORE SECURITY IS REQUIRED
If, for example, 110 or another relevant number appears on the phone display, people usually do not question whether it is – to stay with the example – the police calling. However, clever tricksters know how to help themselves and make such telephone numbers their own. This is what is known as “spoofing”.
The Federal Network Agency is now demanding that providers also take action against spam calls and thus protect consumers better. The main focus is on so-called call ID spoofing, i.e. calls in which fraudsters use known numbers. The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, explains: “Criminals keep concealing the true origin of an incoming call by showing a fake number on the phone display. From December 1st, customers will finally be better protected.”
THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE DECEMBER 1ST
The new obligation for providers has been in effect since the beginning of this month. This means that providers must stop fake calls with fake numbers. Ideally, consumers should no longer be able to reach expensive telephone numbers such as “0900” or “0137”.
If someone calls from abroad but wants to use spoofing to show a German number on the phone display, providers must also prevent this from now on. Such (spam) calls must now be displayed as “anonymous” on the phone. The Federal Network Agency expects that consumers will receive more anonymous calls in the future as a result of the changed number display. The aim of the ad is to enable potential victims of telephone terrorism to react better and not even accept the calls.
DISADVANTAGES OF ANONYMIZED CALLS
The catch: Not every anonymous call is dubious. Sometimes phone numbers of friends or family are not shown on the display or are shown as anonymous. The Federal Network Agency therefore advises making sure of the identity of the caller.
In addition, investigations can no longer be started in many cases of spoofing and telephone terror. Because for this you have to be able to see a phone number, emphasizes the Federal Network Agency.
THIS IS HOW YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TELEPHONE TERROR
Not only providers, you can also protect yourself from spam calls. This is mainly done using apps on your phone or certain security settings on your landline phone. We have written down all the information about telephone terror in a guide .
