Cybersecurity Policy Report, Ofcom Aims to Better Protect Consumers From Messaging Scams, (Oct 29, 2025)

By Paul Kirby

The United Kingdom’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) today proposed new rules to better protect mobile phone users from messaging scams.

“Fraudsters can exploit mobile messaging services to reach victims on a massive scale, manipulating them into making payments or sharing sensitive information. People and businesses lose money and suffer either nuisance or distress due to scam messages,” Ofcom noted. “To tackle this problem, we are today announcing a comprehensive package of planned measures, significantly driving up protections and building on the most effective existing initiatives.”

“Many telecoms companies have been proactive in disrupting scam mobile messages in recent years. However, industry must do more to protect people and businesses,” Ofcom stressed.

“We are consulting on proposals for new rules and guidance for mobile operators and business messaging aggregators. The proposals draw on existing best practice in the mobile sector and are intended to both prevent scammers from accessing mobile messaging services and to stop their activities where they have gained access. We expect that they would address gaps in industry’s existing counter-scam measures and significantly reduce the risk that people and businesses receive scam mobile messages,” Ofcom added.

Comments are due Jan. 28. Ofcom said it would publish its final decision next summer.

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