Harassing calls

Telephone fraud, with short three-digit numbers it will be possible to recognise those operating legally

A three-digit number that warns those who commit offences by masquerading as call centres: Agcom's news adds to a long series of measures to combat telephone fraud and protect consumers

by Letizia Giostra

28 April 2026

Telemarketing, in vigore la stretta su chiamate luce e gas

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The birth of the three-digit number
Focus on the measure
Technical Table
Telemarketing crackdown in the bill decree

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The phone rings, we start the call but no one answers our "Hello?". This is a very common situation that brings to mind a long series of techniques with which the scammer tries to trick the unfortunate person: from the"ballerina scam" via WhatsApp to harassing calls from call centres that do not operate according to the rules.

But things should change soon with the entry into force of the new solutions being considered bythe Agcom to counter telephone scams. The rules are contained in a resolution approved by the Communications Guarantee Authority's Infrastructure and Networks Commission.

Through a few simple steps, the user will be able to quickly verify the reliability of the phone call received, so as not to fall into the trap of telephone fraud.

The three-digit number

Users will be able to recognise calls from industry operators, companies and call centres operating legally by means of a three-digit caller short number, like all customer service numbers.

Companies will thus be able to be more easily identified, reducing the risk of confusion over the identity of the caller generated by aggressive teleselling and telemarketing practices, i.e. spam calls that the user receives several times during the course of the day, in which contracts of various kinds are often proposed: from electricity and gas companies to online trading via telephone or internet offers.

A solution to counter all forms of malfeasance, also because three-digit numbers are not replicable abroad.

The Authority, explains a note, has adopted a step-by-step approach over several time horizons, introducing with the approved resolution an initial set of immediately operational measures.

In addition to the transparency measures already introduced by Resolutions nos. 106/25/CONS and 271/25/CONS, the measure expands the range of numbers that may be used as caller IDs for call and messaging services, providing for the use also of numbers for services without charge to the caller, such as numbers for emergency services, public utility services, harmonised European services of social value, customer care services, services with charge to the called party, as well as numbers intended for SMS/MMS services and data transmission.

The Technical Table

In view of the complexity of the impacts of the new provisions on the market, the Authority finally ordered the setting up of a Technical Table, aimed at defining the implementation modalities of the measures introduced and at examining further issues.

Among these, of particular importance is the regulation of numbers to be allocated exclusively to teleselling and telemarketing services, which by their very nature are more exposed to abusive phenomena, also in the light of the recent regulatory changes introduced by the legislator with regard to the supply of electricity and gas.

The telemarketing crackdown in the billing decree

During the parliamentary process of converting the bills decree into law, a clampdown was introduced, effective 60 days after the new law came into force, on the use of telemarketing for the conclusion of electricity and gas supply contracts, which are the subject of the vast majority of such telephone harassment.

The new regulations apply not only to calls, but also to the sending of promotional messages to consumers. Rules that follow the paths taken in the past to contain the phenomenon, such as the adoption of the Public Opposition Register.