Caller ID Spoofing

To better protect Canadians against nuisance calls, new measures are being implemented by telecom service providers to fight caller ID spoofing. Learn what this means for the University of Alberta.

  • 20 November 2019

A spoofed number can appear as a string of repeat digits, such as (000) 000-0000, a random number, or the number of a company, person or government entity. Telemarketers making sales calls to customers in Canada have an obligation to accurately identify themselves. Callers who use technology to spoof their call display with inaccurate, false or misleading information, violate this requirement.

To better protect Canadians against nuisance calls, new measures are being implemented by telecom service providers to fight caller ID spoofing for both landline and cellular services. For instance, providers must either implement a system to block calls within their networks, or offer call-filtering services. By December 2019, Canadians should receive fewer unwanted calls thanks to these new safeguards. 

What does this mean for the University of Alberta?

Bell, the University’s landline provider, will block any outbound call displaying a calling line ID that is not from the University of Alberta. 

What types of calls will be blocked by Bell?

  • Calls with unassigned North American area codes (e.g. 005-143-4561, 000-000-0000, 111-111-1111 or 123-456-7890)
  • North American calls that contain less than 10 digits (e.g. 0000, 3256 or 45753)
    • This does not include 310-XXXX calls
  • North American calls that have more than 10 digits (e.g. 905-243-4561-1234)
    • This does not include long distance calls that begin with the number 1 (e.g. 1-800-223-1234 or 1-613-245-1234 are considered 10 digit numbers and will not be blocked)
  • Calls originating internationally with more than 15 digits 

These telephone numbers often encompass various types of unwanted, unsolicited, spoofed, or spam phone calls, such as illegitimate marketing (e.g. free cruise offers), and typically originate from telemarketers not registered with the National Do Not Call List (NDNCL).

When will this happen?

The CRTC is taking steps to reduce the number of unsolicited and illegitimate calls Canadians receive. To offer Canadians an additional level of protection, telecommunications service providers must implement a system to block calls within their networks by December 19, 2019.

With the implementation of such a system, calls with caller ID information that either exceeds 15 digits, or does not conform to a number that can be dialed (for example, 000-000-0000) will be blocked before reaching the subscriber.

If you have any questions, please contact the Staff Service Centre.