In a remarkable achievement, Taiwan has witnessed a substantial 70% reduction in incoming international calls, successfully curbing phone scams that have plagued the island. Data from the National Communications Commission reveals a significant drop, with inbound international calls decreasing from 50.8 million in May to 15 million in October.
Taiwan’s triumph is attributed to decisive actions by authorities, who mandated phone carriers to block overseas calls disguised as local numbers. As part of the comprehensive campaign, individuals receiving international calls are now required to listen to a scam alert before answering.
To further combat nuisance calls, online retailers have been directed to employ codes when referencing phone numbers. Additionally, a dedicated “111” number has been established, allowing the government to communicate official messages to residents.
