here are the few numbers to remember to detect unwanted calls

Despite legal restrictions imposed over the years, commercial telephone calls have become a real nuisance for consumers. It is not uncommon to receive several calls per hour. And it is often difficult to know whether it is commercial canvassing. However, there are several ways to limit these annoying and sometimes harmful practices for the consumer.

Telephone marketing is almost as old as the telephone itself. But it has become invasive in recent years, particularly since the proliferation of low-cost call centers abroad.

Invasive, aggressive, and even risky at times. Indeed, the countless calls surrounding energy renovation work are often initiated by unscrupulous service providers. The consumer, and in particular the elderly, are offered connected thermostats, heat pumps or other attic insulation for a symbolic euro, the work being allegedly covered by public subsidies. In the end, the client thus approached ends up paying astronomical, overestimated, or even useless sums, without receiving anything else. This commercial telephone harassment can therefore be risky.

The first step to limit this type of unsolicited calls is to register on the Bloctel website (https://www.bloctel.gouv.fr/)which works a bit like a “red list”. In principle, professionals will no longer be able to approach you without your prior authorization. In principle… Because we can imagine that professionals who do not hesitate to scam elderly or weak people have no scruples about not respecting Bloctel's obligations.

You should also not hesitate to use the call blocking function on your phone. The blocked number will no longer be able to call you or send you messages. The only problem, and a big one: the last four digits of the number vary depending on the calls. Even if you block, for example, 01 62 19 12 68, you will receive another call from 01 62 19 13 56… Which therefore leaves 9,999 possibilities of different numbers…

All the victims of this telephone harassment, however, noticed that the prefixes were often identical. And for good reason, it is a category of numbers called verified multipurpose numbers (NPV) by Arcep (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution). Only these numbers can be used by automated calling or messaging systems. In other words, telephone canvassers cannot, in principle, call you with numbers 01 to 05, 06 or 07, or 09. They must use the twelve prefixes assigned by Arcep. Namely: 01 62, 01 63, 02 70, 02 71, 03 77, 03 78, 04 24, 04 25, 05 68, 05 69, 09 48 and 09 49.

Practical consequence: if your phone displays a number starting with one of these prefixes, there is no point in answering. You will save time and avoid any risk of scam.