South Africa’s internet watchdog, ISPA, is calling on ICASA to crack down hard on call centres illegally using mobile numbers to bombard citizens with spam calls. ISPA is South Africa’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB).

This shady practice violates the Numbering Plan Regulations 2016 and gives fraudsters an unfair advantage.

Why Are Spammers Hijacking Mobile Numbers?

With consumers ignoring calls from unknown landlines, scammers are now faking mobile numbers (especially older 082, 083, 072, and 073 ranges) to trick people into answering.

“Firm action must be taken to prevent the unlawful use of mobile number ranges,” warns Dominic Cull, ISPA regulatory advisor.

“As cold calls from certain ranges go unanswered, the illegal use of mobile numbers skyrockets.”

How Are They Getting Away With It?

• SIM Swapping: Some call centres use prepaid SIMs with unlimited bundles, ditching them once flagged.

• Number Spoofing: Others fake mobile numbers, making it impossible to call back.

• Mobile Networks’ Role? Some operators may even be assigning mobile numbers unlawfully to call centres.

ICASA’s Failures Exposed

Despite ISPA’s complaints since 2022, spam calls from mobile numbers keep increasing. ICASA, as the custodian of SA’s numbering plan, must enforce the law—yet inaction prevails.

What’s Next?

ISPA is pushing for:

• Strict enforcement of number regulations
• Alignment with POPIA to protect consumer data
• Crackdowns on mobile networks enabling illegal calls

ISPA is aware of the work undertaken by the Information Regulator to reduce spam and the initiative from the National Consumer Commission to create an effective opt-out database, but it is ICASA’s role to enforce its regulations on the lawful use of numbers. In addition, enforcement must align with POPIA.

ISPA has written to ICASA with regards to ‘unlawful mobile CLI (Caller Line Identity) presentation’ since 2022 and has provided evidence of this practice to the regulator as requested.

Despite ISPA’s attempts at engagement with the Authority and subsequent known engagements between ICASA and mobile network operators, ISPA members report increasing volumes of spam calls from mobile numbers. ISPA again requests ICASA to take firm action to eliminate this practice.

“ICASA must act now to stamp out the abuse of mobile numbers and to end the high levels of voice call spam being endured by South Africans,” concluded Cull.

Enough is enough! Will ICASA finally step up?

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SIM card. PIXABAY
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