The order from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Service came into effect on March 7 and sets a maximum period of three months for operators, until June 7, to begin implementing the blocking measures. However, Telefónica has anticipated that date and has already implemented it, according to company sources.

Technical Monitoring for Roaming Calls

The goal of banning calls and messages from international origins to national numbers is to prevent scams, as these types of communications encourage identity theft by simulating calls from trusted local numbers.

To block these calls, Telefónica has implemented the necessary technical measures to monitor Movistar customers’ roaming calls originating abroad.

Another measure provided for in the order, which Telefónica has already implemented within the established deadlines, relates to the detection and blocking of calls and messages that use a number not assigned to the operator as the sender or that arrive on the user’s phone with an empty sender number.

New Registry for Message Sender Aliases

Furthermore, the order establishes that the CNMC must create a public registry of “aliases,” or alphanumeric codes that can be used as message senders, which includes both the alias and the identification of the operators or messaging service providers authorized to send SMS or MMS using that alias.

Messages originating from aliases not included in this registry must be blocked by messaging providers.

According to Telefónica, they have already made themselves available to the regulator to work on the project, which in this case has more time for implementation until June 7, 2026.

Regarding the measures related to the identification of unsolicited customer service calls and commercial calls, which the order also includes starting June 7, 2025, commercial calls from mobile numbers will be prohibited, and 800 and 900 numbers will be enabled for commercial calls by call center staff. Telefónica is also working on this issue by contacting customers who may need changes to comply with this provision.

Telefónica has been implementing various measures for years to protect its customers from scams. Movistar regularly launches campaigns with a series of recommendations to prevent fraud, in addition to disseminating a series of tips and warnings via direct email to customers, on social media, and/or on WhatsApp.

Extra Security for Online Accounts

Furthermore, Movistar implements numerous barriers to prevent fraudsters from obtaining customer data. One of these measures involves securing the change of credentials in the website’s customer area by sending an OTP (One-Time Password) code to the customer’s phone with the message “If someone is asking for this code, don’t give it out. You could be being scammed.” This advice makes it clear that the customer must enter it on the website, not anyone else, and never provide it to third parties.

Telefónica also collaborates with State Security Forces to try to dismantle the networks involved in this type of fraud.

Regarding unwanted commercial calls or spam, Movistar does not make these calls and only contacts potential customers who have requested information in its stores. Even in the latter case, the telecommunications company always applies the provisions of its internal code of ethics regarding days, times, caller ID, and the name of both the calling company and the salesperson making the call. Movistar Spain international spoofing calls