Czech network operators have introduced a new system to protect against telephone fraud. It is designed to recognise and block so-called spoofing calls – an important step in combating the increasingly sophisticated methods used by cybercriminals.
According to a report by the news channel ČT24, network operators in the Czech Republic have implemented a new protection system against spoofing. It monitors two-way calls between networks and can detect whether a number has been spoofed. If so, the call is blocked. The tactics of cybercriminals are constantly evolving, and consumers are advised not to share their personal information with anyone.
The callers often appear credible, sometimes posing as police officers to manipulate their victims. “They are told to either hand over money to a courier, transfer it to another account, or send photos of their credit card,” Jakub Vinčálek, spokesman for the police headquarters, told the broadcaster.
The Czech police have already recorded 250 cases since mid-December, with damages exceeding 40 million crowns. Fraudsters can use internet gateways to disguise themselves behind the official numbers of organisations. The new protection system can now block precisely these types of calls.
The system does not protect messaging apps or SMS
Development of the system took over two years. Legal changes were required to allow operators to exchange necessary information. Apps such as WhatsApp and traditional SMS messages remain unprotected.
In cases of fraudulent text messages, operators have established a standardised number (7726) to which suspicious messages can be forwarded for verification. If the message is confirmed to be a scam, the operator blocks the number.
