The operator strengthens user security as the government pushes a national strategy against phone fraud and commercial spam
In a decisive step towards consumer protection against phone fraud, Telefónica has begun blocking international calls and SMS messages that falsely appear to originate from Spanish numbers, one of the most common practices in identity theft and phone scams. The company is taking this proactive measure ahead of the new order from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, set to take effect on June 7, 2025.
This initiative, which is already active on the Movistar network, aims to curb the increasing threat of malicious communications from abroad that present themselves with local numbers to gain the trust of victims. The fraudulent use of such numbering has been identified as one of the main vectors for deception in frauds known as vishing and smishing.
A national plan against spam and phone scams
The blocking of fraudulent calls is just one part of the ambitious plan recently presented by Minister Óscar López in the Congress of Deputies. The government has designed a package of measures to protect citizens against such crimes, after discovering that one in three alerts received at the 017 number of the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) is related to telephone or SMS fraud.
Among the notable initiatives in the government’s plan are:
- Blocking calls and messages from unassigned numbers. Operators will be required to cut off any communication whose originating number is not linked to a service or customer.
- Restrictions on mobile phone use for commercial calls. Starting in June 2025, advertising calls must be made exclusively from numbers 800 or 900, allowing citizens to more easily recognize legitimate communications.
- Registration of aliases for messaging services. The CNMC will manage a public database of authorized alphanumeric names. All messages arriving with unregistered aliases will need to be blocked.
- Limiting the use of Spanish numbers abroad. Their use will only be allowed in authorized roaming situations, preventing identity theft from fraudulent call centers outside the country.
A coordinated action to improve cybersecurity
Telefónica, which has been implementing technical barriers for years to prevent scammers from accessing customers’ sensitive data, is now strengthening its collaboration with authorities. In addition to blocking calls, the operator is applying measures such as securing password changes via OTP (one-time codes) and launching informational prevention campaigns through its official channels.
These actions are part of a broader government strategy to modernize the country’s digital infrastructure, move toward ethical digital transformation, and reinforce cybersecurity. The government has also announced the creation of Cybersecurity Chairs, assistance for tech SMEs, and the development of a Sustainable Data Centers Strategy.
Towards a safer telecommunications environment
With these measures, the aim is to put an end to one of the most annoying and dangerous problems in the digital environment: unwanted commercial calls and phone scams. Although cybercriminals will continue to adapt, the rollout of this plan—in combination with the proactive measures taken by key players like Telefónica—represents a significant step toward safer, more reliable, and transparent communication.
The success of this strategy will depend on the collaboration of all intermediaries in the digital ecosystem, from operators to messaging providers. But all indications suggest that Spain is moving steadily towards a new model of user protection in the digital age.