Förebygg reports that Telia has managed to stop a whopping 30 million fraud calls in the first six months of 2024, which corresponds to approximately two calls per second. This remarkable increase is due to a new solution that effectively blocks spoofed mobile numbers.
Since 2019, Telia and Förebygg have continuously developed and implemented advanced technical solutions to prevent fraudulent calls from reaching our customers. The most well-known method, Wangiri, has been successfully stopped for several years. But in December 2023, Telia took a decisive step forward by being the first player to launch a groundbreaking solution that also prevents spoofed calls from Swedish mobile numbers belonging to Telia. In just six months, this technology has prevented 30 million fraudulent calls.
Although there are still a large number of fraud attempts against Swedish residents, the impressive figure of two calls stopped per second shows that these attempts can be effectively combatted with the right technology. Between January and June 2024, approximately 11 million spoofing calls were stopped, while the rest were identified and blocked as Wangiri calls.
5 tips from Förebygg's safety expert for a safer summer
- Never return a missed call from an unknown number or from abroad.
- Be careful about using open WiFi networks and what you share when you are connected.
- Never share sensitive information, such as card details, passwords or BankID codes.
- Use strong passwords, change them regularly, and enable two-factor authentication.
- Protect your devices from viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other online scams.
About the fraud methods
Wangiri: A method where criminals call you from unknown international numbers and hang up after a signal, hoping that you will call back and incur high charges.
Spoofing: Spoofing involves manipulating the sender's number to look like a trusted, local number, such as from a bank or business. The aim is to trick the recipient into replying or opening a message, and then trying to manipulate them into giving out sensitive information or using services like BankID.
According to the press release.
