Increased user security, thanks to new regulations in Polish telecommunications, are aimed at blocking unwanted phone numbers, as well as fake SMS messages, known as smishing, and calls impersonating legitimate institutions, or spoofing.
As of September 26, 2024, telecom operators are required by the Law on Combating Fraud in Electronic Communications to monitor and block suspicious calls and messages. This applies to both voice calls and SMS messages, which may be attempts to defraud people of data or funds. Operators are now required to block suspicious calls, such as when the number looks out of line with the Polish standard, or if the sender is impersonating trusted public or commercial institutions. An example is so-called CLI spoofing, where criminals use numbers that look like official numbers (such as those of a bank).
The implementation of these regulations includes various stages – blocking dangerous SMS went into effect in March 2024, and the full implementation of the system for managing the registry of numbers and names of public institutions is planned by the end of 2024.
The new regulation is an important step in protecting users from cybercrime and aims to significantly reduce the number of fraudulent calls and messages. While it is difficult to completely eliminate such threats, the mechanisms implemented are expected to provide greater security and reduce the activities of fraudsters.