The State Duma of the Russian Federation signaled a new phase in telecommunications safety, hinting at a step to curb fraudulent calls by tightening how numbers are verified and routed. In a move tied to changes in the law known as On Communication, lawmakers plan to require mobile operators to treat calls from unverified numbers with greater scrutiny. The aim is to prevent misleading or harmful communications before they ever reach a subscriber, leveraging verification data from official databases and government systems. This proposal emerged through statements by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Boris Chernyshov, in an interview with a major news outlet, outlining a broader strategy to shield citizens from fraudsters who exploit weaknesses in caller identification.
According to Chernyshov, future calls and messages bearing the country code +7 will originate only from numbers that are registered in the operators’ official databases and linked to real individuals or legal entities. The plan envisions a system where verification status is tied to trusted identity records, reducing the chance that a scammer can impersonate a legitimate contact simply by spoofing a number. The underlying intention is to create a safer communications environment where both voice and text channels are anchored in verifiable identity information.
The deputy explained that acceptance of communications would be restricted to SIM cards that have completed database verification and that passport data for residents has been checked. This approach aims to curb abusive practices by eliminating access for devices or accounts that fail to meet verification standards. By tying calling capabilities to verified identities, the policy seeks to minimize exposure to potentially dangerous calls and messages while preserving legitimate communications for users who have undergone appropriate checks.
In parallel developments, several financial institutions in Russia have rolled out a fraud mitigation initiative. Starting earlier in the year, banks have deployed AI-powered monitoring systems designed to detect suspicious activity and respond in real time. A new service focused on restitution, Protect or Refund, aims to help customers reclaim losses from fraudsters. The program combines rapid call screening with transaction analysis to identify and block scammers while flagging questionable transfers for further review. This tiered approach reflects a broader push to harness artificial intelligence to safeguard financial and communications channels against evolving threats.
Together, these efforts reflect a growing emphasis on proactive protection and citizen education. In addition to technical safeguards, experts emphasize practical steps individuals can take to avoid scams. These include verifying unfamiliar numbers before answering, using built in features on devices to screen calls, and staying informed about common fraud patterns. While the landscape of threats evolves, the underlying message remains clear: verification, vigilance, and prompt action are key to maintaining secure and trustworthy communications both for everyday users and for institutions that serve them. As always, awareness is the first line of defense, followed by robust technology and clear procedures for reporting suspected fraud and recovering any losses.”