Russian Government Bans IP Telephony to Combat Phone Scams
The Russian government has issued a decree on Saturday, effectively banning IP-telephony. This measure aims to address the growing problem of phone scams, among other issues. As part of the new regulation, a license for transmitting internet data with embedded voice information was removed from the catalog of communication services. The decision is justified as a means to combat phone scams. “This type of phone scam will be significantly restricted, as the possibility of connecting data networks with telephone systems will be excluded” the government stated.
Despite this, assurances were made that this decision would not affect normal users. For messaging communication, specialized programs will continue to be used, enabling the exchange of messages over the internet without relying on traditional fixed and mobile networks.
Earlier in December, media reported that the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and the oversight agency Roskomnadzor were considering blocking calls in messenger services, also to combat fraud. According to reports, two scenarios are being discussed: a complete block or a ban on international calls.
The Russian government has been reporting an increase in phone scams since the start of the war in Ukraine, in which scammers target Russian citizens, instructing them to attack banks, military commissariats, or other objects. This scam primarily targets older and socially vulnerable individuals. The perpetrators contact their victims under false identities, convincing them to transfer money or engage in illegal activities to “recover” their stolen funds.
According to estimates from the largest Russian bank, Sberbank, the damage from January to September was approximately 250 billion rubles (over two billion euros). In recent days, the Ministry of the Interior reported a particularly intense wave of scam attempts.