Further to my post from yesterday on 070 scams, I was alerted by Matt Peacock at Ofcom that I might have missed a part of the story, given that Ofcom is not only initiating ad-hoc investigations but also tackling the wider issues through the Numbering Review consultation.

Thank you Matt Peacock for updating us on this issue and kudos to Ofcom for looking into this. I had a quick look at the consultation which raised a couple of questions:

(a) whilst Ofcom states that they propose to �take immediate steps to increase consumer protection for 070 personal numbers�, it appears from the timeframe proposed by Ofcom that the implementation of any steps to reduce 070 scams may only commence towards or during 2007, with migration of existing 070 numbers to the newly proposed 065 range to be completed towards 2010. We do not know how many complaints regarding 070 scams were or are still received by Ofcom, although from the TelXL and 1RT investigations mentioned in our previous post we understand that these are at least in their hundreds. On other matters where significant consumer harm was involved Ofcom did not shy away from setting a much shorter timeframe for adoption and implementation of remedial actions.

(b) Ofcom�s main proposal (in addition to introducing a charge ceiling on calls to personal numbers) is to migrate personal numbering services from 070 numbers to the newly proposed 065 number range, so that users will not confuse these numbers with mobile numbers. Although this would help to avoid confusion between mobile numbers and personal numbers, this does not seem to deal with the source of the problem: the fraudsters. The proposed steps are not designed to reduce practices of �CLI dumping� (where missed calls from 070 numbers are registered by mobile handsets, enticing the called party to return the call) or dubious fax-back schemes, but rather to reduce the number of consumers who are tempted by these schemes. The resourcefulness of those who are out to scam will always come out with new ways to entice consumers to place a call or send a fax, no matter if the number to call begins with 065 rather than 070.

Another approach would be to try and improve the control the regulator has over the service providers down the chain or indeed the communications providers to whom the numbers where allocated in the first place, as well as the efficiency of the enforcement procedure and the available sanctions. Ofcom does consider this to a certain extent by considering a ‘consumer protection’ test for the allocation and sub-allocation of numbers, pursuant to which numbers will be denied from applicants who seriously abused consumers in the past.

If you were scammed and want to voice you opinion, Ofcom has extended the deadline for submissions until 25 May 2006.

Amit Rainhartz