The Office of the Communications Authority ("OFCA") announced that as from tomorrow (21 August 2015), telephone operators would insert a specific "+" sign in the calling number display ("CND") of mobile phones to help members of the public identify incoming calls which originate from outside Hong Kong, despite their having 8-digit calling numbers resembling local calls. The new measure seeks to alert the public to possible phone scams through "caller ID spoofing".
"Caller ID allows a called party to identify a caller before he/she answers the call. According to the Police, there has been a surge in phone scams lately involving scammers deliberately changing/falsifying the caller ID by means of "caller ID spoofing". The Police indicates that these phone scams originate from outside Hong Kong," a spokesperson for OFCA said.
"To help detect caller ID spoofing, as from tomorrow, the telephone operators are required to insert a "+" sign in the CND of mobile phones as a prefix for all incoming calls originating from outside Hong Kong, even if, for instance, the calling number is masqueraded as a local Hong Kong phone number. The "+" sign enables the public to identify from the CND the origination of the incoming calls as from outside Hong Kong. On receipt of such calls, members of the public should be alert to the possible fraudulent identity of the callers. If one decides to take the call, he/she should remain vigilant and be on guard against possible telephone scams," continued the spokesperson.
Hitherto, the practice of inserting a "+" sign before the calling number of an incoming external call varied from one telephone operator to another. Unifying the arrangement at this juncture aims to raise the alertness of members of the public to calls from possible scammers by identifying the origin of the suspicious calls from outside Hong Kong.
The measure is implemented in full by all relevant telephone operators in Hong Kong from tomorrow, save for two mobile network operators, Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited ("HKT") and Hutchison Telephone Company Limited ("Hutchison"). HKT and Hutchison are putting in place the new arrangements in two phases. Phase one, which also takes effect tomorrow, covers incoming calls originating from outside Hong Kong other than roaming calls made by Hong Kong mobile phone users to the networks of these two operators. The insertion of "+" sign for all incoming calls originating from outside Hong Kong for these two operators will take effect in phase two some time in September 2015.
"The insertion of the "+" sign to all incoming calls originating from outside Hong Kong seeks to alert the public to possible phone scams. Whether or not the "+" sign is shown on the CND of mobile phones, members of the public are advised to always stay vigilant in regard to suspicious phone calls. They should not disclose their personal information to or accede to any request of the dubious caller. If in doubts, they are advised to alert family members to the questionable phone calls, and to report immediately to the Police about suspected phone scams," the spokesperson said.
OFCA also issued today a consumer alert providing the public with further information about the new measure and on precautions to guard against possible caller ID spoofing and phone scams. Please find it at http://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/consumer_focus/education_corner/alerts/general_mobile/telephone_scams/index.html.
Office of the Communications Authority
20 August 2015