The German Bundesnetzagentur (long term for “regulator”) has shut down more than 230 premium rate numbers in the last half year because of consumer complaints regarding ping calls and telephone spamming. For over 80 numbers the billing and the collection of fees have been forbidden. A ping call typically is a short call to a number, which is too short to be answered but shows up in the “received calls” list nevertheless. Either the CLI of the sender is spoofed or the call back is rerouted to a premium rate number.

Posted on October 29th, 2006 by lbraum
Filed under: Germany