Brazil’s federal government has introduced new requirements to combat fraud and scams sent by SMS. Published on Wednesday, the rules require mobile operators to register businesses that send messages using short codes and block texts from codes that are not on the register. The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) will oversee implementation, which is due within 90 days, with a possible extension.
Short codes are brief sender numbers, such as “29222,” that appear instead of a conventional phone number. Under the new system, a public register will identify the companies authorized to use them, and each code will be assigned to one company. Anatel may approve exceptions if there is technical justification.
Companies involved in routing SMS messages must verify the identity of clients using their services and keep records that identify who is responsible for each message. They must also help identify and stop campaigns when asked, if there are consistent indications of fraud. Operators will be required to automatically monitor messages for suspicious campaigns and attempts to spoof sender identities.
The measures follow findings from a survey conducted in August by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br). In its Privacy and Personal Data Protection study, 71% of respondents said they had been approached by scammers through SMS. Messaging apps were cited by 84%, phone calls by 79%, fake websites or apps by 71%, email by 69%, and social media by 67%.
The Ministry of Communications said the requirements respond to an increase in digital scams amid the expansion of digital services and their adoption by the public. The rules were published in Brazil’s Official Gazette.
Sources: Olhar Digital.