Spain has introduced new regulations aimed at combating phone scams and unwanted telemarketing calls, building upon the country’s ongoing efforts to address rising mobile fraud threats. The measures focus on protecting consumers from deceptive and fraudulent sales tactics involving mobile numbers, coming at a time when Spain has seen a significant increase in telecommunications-based fraud attempts.
Under the new regulations, companies will be prohibited from using mobile numbers for commercial calls. Instead, they must use landlines with regional area codes or toll-free numbers, such as 800 and 900 series. The measure addresses the issue of consumers mistaking sales calls from mobile numbers for personal contacts, a tactic frequently exploited by fraudsters in SIM swap and phishing schemes.
The legislation establishes a new complaints system through the Telecommunications Consumer Protection Office, allowing individuals to report mobile numbers that violate these regulations. Companies found in non-compliance will face penalties, marking a significant enhancement to Spain’s existing consumer protection framework.
Telecom providers are required to automatically block unregistered numbers to combat phishing scams, supporting Spain’s broader digital security initiatives. The Spanish National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) is developing a database of verified institutions to enhance consumer protection against fraudulent messages containing dangerous links to fake websites, similar to anti-phishing measures already implemented by Spanish financial institutions.
Consumers can also register with Lista Robinson, a free opt-out service that legally prevents companies from making unsolicited marketing calls to registered users. The service complements Spain’s participation in the Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) project, which aims to strengthen digital identity verification across the European Union.
“We often receive calls from a mobile number, thinking it’s a friend or family member, only to discover it’s a salesperson or a con artist,” said Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Administration. “This will now be banned.”
The regulations are part of Spain’s broader strategy to combat telephone fraud and cybercrime, with the goal of reducing financial exploitation through phone scams. The measures aim to create clear distinctions between legitimate communications and unwanted commercial calls, building upon the country’s existing efforts to protect consumers from increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
Sources: Euro Weekly News, InSpain.news, Congressional Record
Follow Us