New regulation to fight spoof call phone fraud

Thursday 08 June 2023

New regulations are being introduced in Jersey to stop fraudsters from being able to spoof the numbers of banks and other trusted institutions in order to scam islanders into sharing personal details.

The island's competition watchdog – the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority (JCRA) – today announced that it had finalised plans to update local telecoms licences to include a specific condition that will minimise the fraudulent use of 'Calling Line Identity' or CLI technology.

Available on both fixed and mobile phones, CLI is the technology that allows people to see the number of the call before they answer the phone. 

Fraudsters have been known to manipulate this technology by changing the number to one their intended target recognises – often, this will be a trusted institution like a bank or Government department.

Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, recently reported that people are far more likely to answer the phone if they recognise the number. Once answered, the fraudster may persuade the call receiver to disclose personal information such as bank details which can lead both financial loss and emotional harm. 

Pictured: People are more likely to answer the phone if they recognise the number. 

The new license condition, which is coming into force this month, will ensure that customers have access to CLI without any additional charge, whilst also introducing an obligation for operators to block calls they identify as suspicious or associated with potentially fraudulent CLI.

Sarah Price, the JCRA's Chief Operating Officer Sarah Price, said: "We're aware that fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to persuade people to reveal important personal information.

"Presenting CLI that appears trustworthy is often the first step in this process. The new regulation is an important step in limiting opportunities for such telephone-based fraud, which should help improve islanders' trust in calls they receive."