By Omobayo Azeez
Telecoms operators are responsible for 85 per cent of the total spam calls and messages received by telecommunications subscribers on their subscribers identity module (SIM) cards in Nigeria, a report by Truecaller has revealed.
According to the report, total volume of spam calls and SMS received by subscribers in Nigeria has increased over time
Truecaller said an average Truecaller user in Nigeria received 30 spam messages and 8.4 spam calls per month, 20 per cent higher than the figures recorded last year.
“The top spammers recorded in the country were telecom operators with 85, as the data suggested that they use subscriber information to spam their customers with data plans and promotions,” the report reveals.
Other categories of spamming like telemarketing accounted for 3 per cent while Robo-calls, and financial service providers, amongst others, registered 12 per cent.
Insights from the report indicated that Nigeria was one of the top 20 countries affected by spam calls and SMS globally.
Nigeria last appeared on the list in 2017, showing that the considerable increase of spamming by operators from 61 per cent then to the latest 85 per cent was responsible.
According to the report, Nigeria ranked 18th for spam calls and 7th for spam SMS. Other African countries that ranked high on the spam list include South Africa and Egypt who ranked 6th and 20th respectively.
As mobile phone penetration continues to grow in Nigeria, the subscribers contends with such issues as spams which grows alongside the number of subscribers and according to the data, the side effects of spams is also on the increase.
In response to complaints, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), created a Do-Not-Disturb Code (2442) to enable consumers deactivate unsolicited messages.
However, spams seem to be on the increase despite the regulations, showing that something more is needed to curb the menace of spam.
