We’re all facing a barrage of scam calls, and now UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is stepping up the fight against them.
If you’ve ever hesitated to answer a call from an unknown UK mobile number, you’re not alone. Ofcom’s new plan targets one of the most common tricks used by criminals: faking, or ‘spoofing’, a UK mobile number to make their call look legitimate.
Marina Gibbs, Policy Director for Networks and Communications at Ofcom, said: “Customers endure a barrage of scam calls, and when people get caught out, the consequences can be devastating. It can happen to anyone, with criminal gangs in other countries trying to exploit people when their guard is down.
“The work we’ve collectively already done has led to a million calls a day being blocked, but there’s no silver bullet, and we’re always looking for new ways to shore up our defences in the fight against fraud. These new measures would provide further protection for people in the UK.”
Scammers based abroad know we’re far more likely to answer from a familiar +44 number than an international one. Ofcom’s research shows just how much we trust local numbers. While only one in ten of us would pick up a buzz from an unrecognised international number, that figure jumps to one in four if the scam call appears to come from a UK mobile.
Ofcom has already told phone companies to block international calls that fake a UK landline number. However, a loophole allowed scammers to keep exploiting UK mobile numbers—partly to avoid blocking genuine customers who were using their phones while roaming abroad.
Now, the regulator wants to close that gap. The new proposal would force phone companies to hide the caller ID of any call from overseas that looks like a UK mobile, unless they can prove it’s a legitimate customer. Cybersecurity experts say the move is long overdue.
“Scam calls are not a new crime, and the methods to deal with them are not fit for purpose,” said Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN. “It is encouraging to see Ofcom tackling the issues and putting pressure on telecom providers to do more to protect their customers.”
Briedis warned that these calls are often the first step towards devastating financial crime. The goal is to trick you into giving away personal information, which can then be used in a ‘SIM-swapping’ attack.
“If successful,” he explained, “a SIM-swapping attack lets the criminal intercept calls and messages intended for the victim, potentially granting access to the victim’s online accounts.”
While these new rules could make a real difference, you don’t have to wait to protect yourself. Briedis advises that you can take action right now. He suggests speaking to your mobile provider about services like EE’s Scam Guard, or using a trusted third-party call-blocking app. At a minimum, if you get a call you know is a scam, block the number immediately.
Ofcom is asking for feedback on its plan until 13 October 2025 and expects to make a final decision early next year.
(Image by Mohamed Hassan)
See also: UK risks losing £230B without mobile network upgrades
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