Today the UKs introduced CLI regulations which signifies the regulators shift towards combatting telecom fraud and enhancing trust with caller identification.
In an era where global communication is increasingly prevalent, countries around the world have been grappling with the challenges posed by caller identification spoofing and fraudulent activities.
The United States deployed Stir and Shaken, which check on the provenance of a number and therefore prevents unauthorised presentation in a similar fashion to the UKs DNO (do not originate) lists or even BGP hijacking.
Some other countries, notably France have altogether prohibited the presentation of Geographic numbers from non-native networks. The UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands all indicated they would follow suit.
The Rise of Caller Identification Spoofing:
Caller identification spoofing became a prevalent issue along with the rise of VoIP. Spoofing involves manipulating the CLI system to display a different phone number or caller ID to deceive the recipient of a call. This technique is often employed by scammers to trick individuals into answering calls and engaging in fraudulent activities, such as identity theft, financial scams, or phishing attempts. As the use of spoofing techniques became more prevalent globally, countries have been prompted to adopt stringent measures to counter this growing threat.
The rising trend to Prohibit CLI Presentation Outside Its native Jurisdiction:
Recognizing the need to tackle the rising tide of telecom fraud, the UK has taken a significant step by prohibiting CLI presentation outside its jurisdiction. This means that calls originating from outside the UK will no longer be allowed to display UK-based phone numbers or caller IDs. The move aims to curtail the effectiveness of spoofing techniques and make it more difficult for scammers to deceive individuals by posing as local entities.
Additional UK Measures to Enhance Caller Identification Security:
In addition to the prohibition on CLI presentation outside the UK, the country has implemented several measures to further strengthen caller identification security:
- Preventing Invalid CLI Presentation: The UK's regulatory framework ensures that only valid and authorized phone numbers can be used as caller IDs. Telecom providers are required to prevent the use of invalid or unallocated numbers as CLI, making it harder for scammers to impersonate legitimate entities.
- Utilizing Information to Identify Invalid Numbers: The UK makes use of comprehensive databases that contain information on numbers that should not be used as CLI, such as emergency service lines or government entities. Telecom providers leverage this information to identify and block calls displaying such numbers as caller IDs.
- Identifying and Blocking Calls with Invalid CLI: Through advanced call analysis systems, calls originating from abroad that do not have a valid CLI are detected and subsequently blocked. This helps in filtering out potentially fraudulent calls and protecting UK residents from scams originating overseas.
- Blocking Calls with Spoofed UK CLI: The UK's regulatory framework empowers telecom providers to identify and block calls coming from abroad but displaying UK-based caller IDs obtained through spoofing techniques. This measure serves as a deterrent and reduces the success rate of scams perpetrated by making the calls appear local.
- Prohibition of 09 Non-Geographic Numbers as CLI: Non-geographic numbers, particularly those starting with 09, are often associated with premium rate services. To prevent misuse and fraud, the UK explicitly prohibits the use of 09 non-geographic numbers as caller IDs, ensuring transparency and protecting consumers from potentially costly schemes.
The Ramifications:
The latter trend will now mean that number subscribers will need to not only be in country but by its very nature have an in-country tariff and dial-plan. Factor this over many countries and it becomes more complex in terms of billing and wholesale-led-chains especially if you have single customers spanning multiple restrictive markets.
