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SPAM CALLS

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WhatsApp is scheduled to launch a new function called Silence Unknown Callers, which will allow users to filter out spam calls. The function, which can be turned on or off in the settings menu, automatically mutes phone calls from numbers not in the user’s contact list.   Despite the fact that the call will be quiet, the Caller ID will remain visible in both the calls list and the notifications center. This will enable users to determine who was attempting to contact them.   This new addition is intended to fix a problem with WhatsApp’s Communities feature. This feature allows any group member to simply access the phone numbers of other users and begin spamming them. Although banning and reporting calls from unknown numbers can aid in preventing this, Silence Unknown Callers tries to stop the initial wave of spam by excluding calls from these numbers.   The most recent…

As the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, prepares revised regulations that will hold telecom companies to a higher standard, the UK operator BT is stepping up its efforts to fight scammers. In order to achieve this goal, Hiya Protect, a network-level monitoring system that can detect and reject suspicious calls, will be used by the company. This technology will be available to both fixed-line and mobile EE subscribers. According to a study done by the Hiya team, 29 percent of all phone calls in the UK are spam. 50 percent of those calls are fraudulent, making the UK the most fraudulent country in Europe. This demonstrates the scope of the problem, which affects a vast number of people in the UK. Naturally, Ofcom is aware of this problem. According to calculations made by the telco regulator, a quarter of UK adults dealt with at least one instance of suspicious…

XConnect, a provider of numbering intelligence solutions, has announced a partnership with IDT Global, the wholesale voice and SMS subsidiary of IDT Corporation.    The partnership will see IDT Global utilize XConnect’s RealNumber DNO database, which contains over 6 billion local and toll-free numbers in North America, in order to enhance its customers’ voice experience and protect them from fraudulent calls.   The RealNumber DNO contains numbers that should never be used for call origination, assisting in the prevention of telecom fraud on known inbound-only and invalid numbers. By accessing the RealNumber DNO, IDT Global will be able to identify invalid calls and increase the quality of its traffic. This database is updated daily and includes North American toll/local and toll-free lines, providing IDT Global with a complete and trustworthy additional layer of defense in its role as a gateway operator.   The collaboration also further expands XConnect’s optimization of…

According to the Federal Communications Commission, callers must receive the recipient’s permission before leaving “ringless voicemails.” The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unanimously concluded that these quiet voicemails are subject to the same Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) provisions that prohibit robocalls without authorization.  Each year, the FCC receives numerous consumer complaints about ringless voicemail. As a result, the Commission has made it clear that robocalls, including ringless voicemail, are unlawful if they are made without the recipient’s prior affirmative consent. This decision took effect on the same day that it was made public, November 21, 2022. Any non-emergency call made to a wireless telephone number utilizing an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice is now forbidden under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which safeguards customers against unwanted robocalls. This decision comes five years after All About the Message, LLC (AATM) petitioned the…

Global communications platform provider Truecaller has released a completely updated version of its iPhone app for users all around the world. This iOS software has been entirely reworked from scratch to be faster and more effective, and deliver substantially improved number identification, spam, scam and business call detection than earlier versions of the program.    This latest advancement is the result of an entirely new architecture that combines Truecaller’s cutting-edge spam detection algorithms with Apple’s existing technologies to provide the best caller ID solution. The updated program connects with Apple’s default phone app to display Truecaller results directly in the call log.    Truecaller has created the most up-to-date, precise and comprehensive first ring caller ID and spam detection for any region, and the company ensures this leading position by continuously upgrading its spam database. The app also contains a significant redesign and a new user experience flow, which greatly…

Ofcom has a plan for phone boxes Under new guidelines published by the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, stronger security for public call boxes went into effect. The new guidelines update from Ofcom’s aims to guarantee that strategically located phone boxes are not removed and that they are modified to provide extra services. As a result, phone boxes will be protected against removal if they are still needed by a local community. Millions of UK residents continue to rely on older technologies such as landlines and payphones for connectivity. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mryanv67 TIM to cut 1,200 jobs to minimize costs TIM has reportedly secured an agreement with labor unions that will allow the company to cut up to 1,200 positions, allowing TIM to save significantly on domestic personnel expenses. Cuts will be implemented through a voluntary early retirement program, which will be the first step in the Italian incumbent’s larger…

Robocalls are not only annoying, they are potentially dangerous and are progressively becoming an even bigger problem. Sadly, it does not look like the situation will improve in 2021, as there were 22.8 billion total robocalls recorded at the midway point of 2020. Robocalls are phone calls made by an automatic dialer that transmits pre-recorded messages. While this may not seem like an issue, it can be. Some robotic calls may be from legitimate sources, but they may also be scams designed to deceive or bully people to provide personal information.