Malta Communications Authority implements new call blocking measures to fight scam calls

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) is implementing blocking measures on all local fixed telephony and mobile providers to protect users from scam calls which appear to have a Maltese number.

However, these blocks may also affect the ability of end-users to receive phone calls where the Caller ID is a Maltese number starting with ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘8’.

In separate notices to their customers, telecoms operators GO and Epic said they can “rest assured that calls from Maltese mobile numbers – a Maltese number starting with ‘7’ or ‘9’ – will not be impacted.”

There may be impacts, however, on “call forwarding facilities and calls placed by callers making use of overseas telephony providers that are not authorised to provide services in Malta,” which may be blocked.”

GO and Epic are therefore updating their terms and conditions in the coming weeks, although the actual blocking measures will being on 1st November 2024.

GO (but not Epic), told its customers that “in view of the possible impact on users of call origination services provided by unauthorised overseas telephony providers, such as internet-based or cloud-based telephony services, GO users will be able to verify on 2400-2400 whether the GO fixed line telephony set-up may be affected by this measure.

“If you call this number from a call origination service that is authorised with the MCA, you should hear a recorded message. If you do not hear this announcement, please reach out to the service provider offering you this call origination service to discuss your current setup. The +356 2400 2400 number is only to be called from fixed line numbers,” it said.