The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a strong warning to both loan app companies and telemarketers regarding their unauthorized use of individuals’ phone numbers for commercial purposes.
In a public notice issued on Thursday, the Commission stated that individuals found engaged in such activities would face arrest and prosecution.
The warning has come in the wake of incessant harassment of subscribers by loan sharks, which has failed to die down despite efforts by regulators.
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Loan sharks require access to the phone contacts of borrowers and begin to call and text the numbers in case of default.
The NCC said in a statement posted on its website that utilizing individuals’ phone numbers without their explicit consent is considered a violation of privacy. Furthermore, the telecom regulator clarified that telemarketers falsely asserting that they obtained these numbers from the NCC or the national database of registered SIMs are making inaccurate claims.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to the criminal activities of telemarketers who illegally access the telephone numbers of telecom subscribers for their commercial activities and gains.
“These telemarketers also falsely claim that they obtain telecom consumers’ phone numbers from the Nigerian Communications Commission. Otherwise, they claim that the Commission gave them access to the numbers through the Subscriber ldentity Module (SIM) Registration Database. These claims are not true.
“The Commission fully abides by the principles and rules guiding the protection of privacy as a right of all consumers and users of telecommunications services.
“Therefore, no service provider or telemarketer is authorized to invade, harvest, or use subscriber data in any form or guise without the express approval of the consumer, except otherwise provided by law.
“The protection of the data of telecom subscribers by the Commission is guaranteed in Section 35 (1) of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, 2007; Section 9 (1) of the Nigerian Communications (Registration of Communications Subscribers) Regulations, 2022; and Section 4.2 (a) &< (b) of the NCC’s Internet Code of Practice.
“Therefore, any telemarketer involved in harvesting telecom subscribers’ phone numbers and other personal details through dishonest means and using such for commercial purposes without regulatory approval is hereby strongly warned to desist from this illegal act, as anyone found guilty shall be arrested and prosecuted in keeping with the law.”
The Commission has urged telecom subscribers to utilize the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) Short Code, introduced by the NCC for managing their subscriptions to Value Added Services. This service provides the option to stop unsolicited text messages and other telemarketing offers.
To activate full DND, subscribers can send ‘STOP’ to the Short Code 2442.
Furthermore, the NCC has encouraged telecom consumers who come across such illicit activities by telemarketers to report such instances to the Commission. This can be done by calling the NCC Toll-Free Number 622, and necessary enforcement actions will be taken.