Since August 19 answering the phone will be a little safer. In fact, enter theThe first part of the new Agcom regulation comes into force against spoofing, the technique that allows annoying call centers (and scammers) to disguise themselves behind fake Italian numbers, often with reassuring prefixes such as 06 or 02. Telephone operators will be obliged to Block all calls from abroad that simulate Italian landline numbersIn case of violation, fines can reach up to 1 million euros.
The calendar of the crackdown It involves two steps:
- August 19, 2025: Block calls from abroad impersonating Italian landline numbers.
- November 19, 2025: extension also to mobile numbers, with a more complex filter capable of distinguishing who is actually roaming abroad from those falsifying their identity.
How Spoofing Works
Lo spoofing is the digital mask of illegal call centers. Who calls? uses software capable of falsifying the number ID, making a “harmless” address appear on the user's display, often identical to that of banks, energy companies or public bodies.
A deception that multiplies the possibility of fraud: the recipient, convinced they are dealing with a "home" number, answers and falls into the trap of aggressive commercial offers or, worse, attempted financial fraud.
The limits of the system
The president of Assoutenti, Gabriele Melluso, immediately clarifies, "this is a first step, not the end of unwanted calls." The filters introduced by Agcom, in fact, still leave several loopholes open.
Calls that come in with international prefixes will continue to pass through without obstacles, as well as those that start from "complacent" Italian call centers, which operate on the edge of the rules or circumvent them. To these are added all the phone calls made over the internet or applications such as WhatsApp, which remain completely excluded from the new blocking system.
Translated: Phone spam will decrease, but it will not disappear.
A billion-dollar business
Telemarketing in Italy is a sector to 3 billion euros a year, with over 2.000 active call centers and approximately 80.000 employees. But alongside the regular operators, an army of underground call centers thrives, especially abroad, operating in total anarchy.
Despite the 32 million people registered in the Register of Oppositions, each Italian receives on average 5-8 sales calls per week: 15 billion unwanted phone calls in one year.
What changes for citizens
Starting Tuesday, it will be more difficult for a fake Italian landline number to appear on your screen. Starting in November, it will also be the turn of cell phones. But be careful, scammers won't stand stillThey could move to international numbers, VoIP platforms, or messaging apps.
The golden rule remains the same: Be wary of anyone calling to ask for personal or banking information. Because, even with the new filters, the real battle against harassing telemarketers still hinges on user caution.
