The State Duma Committee on Information Policy supported a number of initiatives aimed at combating telephone fraud. In particular, it is planned to introduce a ban on calls and messages from unknown numbers in messengers.
As the committee’s head, Alexander Khinshtein, noted during the committee’s meeting, “requirements for messengers are being prescribed – <...> the obligation to provide information about their users upon request from the state. <...> By default, a ban on receiving calls and messages in messengers from unknown numbers is being introduced.”
According to the Beeline telecom operator, currently more than half of fraudulent attacks are carried out via instant messengers, most often Viber and WhatsApp. As committee member Anton Nemkin noted in early July, it is necessary to take a set of measures to stop the actions of telephone scammers. According to him, more than a thousand fraudulent call centers are currently operating in Ukraine, each making up to ten thousand calls per day.
Another measure designed to limit fraudulent activities is the introduction of a limit on the number of SIM cards for one subscriber. Thus, Russians will be able to register no more than 20 SIM cards, and foreigners – no more than ten. This amendment was also approved by the Information Policy Committee.
