Core of the New Rule: Mandatory ‘400’ Prefix
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function has officially announced that a new telecommunications law aimed at regulating commercial telemarketing will take effect on October 17, 2026. The core requirement of this regulation is that all outbound calls for commercial promotion purposes must use a dedicated 9-digit number with the ‘400’ prefix. By establishing this exclusive number range, the public will be able to immediately identify the commercial nature of incoming calls, allowing them to effectively distinguish between personal communications and marketing calls.
Policy Goal: A Targeted Strike on Phone Scams
This resolution was issued in April by the Ministry for Digital Transformation, led by Óscar López. The government emphasizes that the primary goal of the new rule is to curb phone scams and malicious smishing (SMS phishing) messages. According to the newspaper ‘20 Minutos’, once legitimate commercial calls are clearly identified, fraudulent calls disguised as regular numbers will be easier to detect and guard against, thereby enhancing the public’s overall ability to prevent fraud.
Anti-Fraud Results and Supporting Measures
In a recent announcement, the Minister for Digital Transformation disclosed the initial results of the national anti-fraud program. Since the implementation of the plan to tackle phone and SMS scams, major telecom operators, adhering to strict guidelines, have collectively blocked over 300 million potentially fraudulent calls and 26.6 million suspicious text messages at the source, effectively reducing the public’s exposure to scams.
Public Support: ‘017’ Hotline for Expert Advice
To support the public, the government has established ‘017’, a free and confidential helpline. Operated by the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), this hotline is dedicated to receiving and handling reports and requests for help from individuals who have experienced phone harassment, scams, or other cybersecurity issues, providing professional guidance to those affected.
