Else Beekman
Telefónica has begun blocking international phone calls and text messages that misuse Spanish phone numbers, stepping ahead of a new government regulation aimed at curbing phone scams. The regulation, which comes into effect on 7 June, is part of a broader initiative by Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation to reduce cases of identity fraud involving spoofed calls.
Criminals often use Spanish numbers to pose as trusted local contacts. Under the new rules, telecom providers are required to actively prevent this kind of abuse. Telefónica, Spain’s largest telecom provider, operating under the Movistar brand, has already implemented the necessary technical measures.
Phone scams in Spain
Phone fraud is a growing problem in Spain, with a significant portion of the population falling victim to various scam techniques. According to a study conducted in November 2024, 89% of Spaniards have encountered some form of fraud, with email phishing being the most common method, affecting 33% of respondents.
A particularly sophisticated form of phone fraud, known as ‘vishing’, was uncovered at the end of 2024. An organisation operating call centres in Peru and using ‘mules’ in Spain managed to steal €3 million from 10,000 victims through this method. In vishing scams, fraudsters pose as bank employees over the phone in order to obtain sensitive information.
Proactive measures against phone fraud
The regulation also mandates the blocking of messages from unassigned numbers or texts sent without a visible sender. Telefónica has rolled this out as well. In addition, a national registry for SMS sender aliases is being developed. These aliases, such as ‘ING’ or ‘PostNL’, are recognisable names used by companies in place of phone numbers. Only verified aliases will be permitted once the system is fully operational by June 2026.
In the meantime, Telefónica is working closely with Spain’s telecommunications regulator CNMC. The company says it has long been committed to protecting its customers from scams. Telefónica used methods like sharing warnings and educational content via email, social media and even WhatsApp.
One particularly effective measure is the security of its customer portal. If a user attempts to change their login details, the system sends a one-time passcode (OTP) along with a warning: “If someone asks you for this code, do not share it. You could be the target of a scam.” Telefónica says such alerts help raise customer awareness and prevent fraud.
Cracking down on unwanted sales calls
From June this year, new rules will also ban unsolicited marketing calls made from mobile numbers. Only calls from official call centre staff using 800- or 900-numbers will be allowed. Telefónica says it is already updating its systems and customer communications to comply.
The company also emphasises that it does not engage in cold calling. Only customers who have actively requested information in-store may be contacted – and always in line with an internal code of conduct. This code sets clear standards on issues such as call timing, transparency about who is calling, and the reason for the call.