Ofcom is ramping up its enforcement programme against network providers which fail to ensure the phone numbers that they have been allocated are not being abused for nuisance calls, rogue texts and scams.
Primo Dialler has become the second company to be probed, following an investigation launched against Tismi in October last year.
Ofcom allocates telephone numbers, usually in large blocks, to telecoms firms. They can then transfer the numbers to individual customers or other businesses.
In line with Ofcom’s consumer protection rules and industry guidance, phone companies must not misuse numbers which have been sub-allocated to them.
Services must also ensure numbers are being used correctly in accordance with the National Telephone Numbering Plan.
The regulator has gathered information which leads it to believe the numbers sub-allocated to both Primo Dialler and Tismi are potentially being misused, including to facilitate scams.
In order for phone companies to tackle misuse of numbers, Ofcom expects them, among other things, to carry out ‘know your customer’ due diligence checks on their business customers to prevent scammers from accessing valid numbers in the first place. Additionally, they should keep the level of risk posed by a business customer under review by monitoring for potential number misuse.
In a statement Ofcom said: “We have issued formal demands for information to assess how effectively they are tackling scam calls and texts, including the preventative measures they have in place. We are now exploring whether those providers may be misusing numbers or otherwise failing to comply with our rules.”
Related stories
Ofcom puts new squeeze on overseas phone scammers
Ofcom forces networks to cut off rogue calls at source
ICO whacks two Greater Manchester firms on the PECR
PECR gripes hit 3-year high as Whac-A-Mole continues
South-east firms battered for making predatory calls
Be the first to comment on "Ofcom steps up fight against dodgy network providers"