The Spanish government has launched one of the most ambitious measures against phone scams in Europe. Since March 2025, operators have blocked 47.9 million fraudulent calls and 2.2 million scam texts. The goal: curb the unstoppable rise of vishing (call-based fraud) and smishing (SMS fraud).
And the results are starting to show.
Why so many fake calls?
Phone scams are no longer just a guy with a strange accent calling from an internet café. Now, we’re talking about automatic bots capable of launching hundreds of thousands of calls within hours.
The most common technique is caller ID spoofing: the number displayed appears to be Spanish and legitimate (even from your bank), but actually originates outside the country.
What changes with the government’s plan?
The plan unfolds in several phases, and some measures are already in place:
- 🚫 Goodbye to ghost numbers: Nonexistent numbers (such as prefixes 3 and 4) are being blocked.
- 🌍 End of international spoofing: Calls coming from abroad but pretending to be a Spanish number no longer pass the filter.
- 📵 Regulated commercial calls: Calling from mobile phones is prohibited. Only reserved geographic prefixes or 800/900 numbers are allowed.
The impact is clear: from March to June, about 235,000 fake calls were blocked daily. Since June, that number has increased to 435,000 blocked each day.
The next big step: verified texts (SMS)
SMS fraud is one of the most dangerous, as it can impersonate trusted banks, public administrations, or companies.
That’s why, starting June 2026, a national alphanumeric identifier database will be implemented. This means if you receive an SMS from “BankX” or “Correos,” the system will verify whether that identifier is registered with the CNMC.
In practice, it will be much harder for cybercriminals to impersonate your bank with just a text message.
Spain isn’t alone: how other countries handle it
Phone fraud is a global issue. Other nations have been applying measures for years:
| Country | Key Measure | Result |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Blocking fake identifiers + AI | -70% in vishing fraud |
| France | Ban on automated telemarketing calls | -40% in citizen complaints |
| Germany | Mandatory bank SMS authentication | Greater security in online banking |
| Spain | Network blocking + SMS verification | 48 million calls blocked in 5 months |
Will AI be the next step?
It’s likely. Like email spam filters, AI can detect fraud patterns in real time. Of course, always within the framework of GDPR to respect privacy.
The key will be staying one step ahead: cybercriminals will always seek alternative methods.
What this means for users
- We’ll notice fewer scam calls and texts.
- Better identification of legitimate communications.
- Less confusion with telemarketing calls.
- But fraud won’t disappear — it will simply evolve.
In summary
Spain has blocked nearly 50 million scam attempts in just five months. This is a first step, paving the way for a future where telecommunications are treated as a critical infrastructure — on par with banking cybersecurity or data centers.
The message is clear: compliance with the law isn’t enough; we must secure the network.
via: Teléfonos