Starting next Tuesday, September 15, SMS, MMS, and Rich Communication Services (RCS) from commercial aliases (brands, trade names, company names, or domains) that are not registered with the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) will be blocked by telecommunications operators. It is a measure, included in an order from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, that seeks to curb fraud and identity spoofing scams through these messages used to send mass notifications and all kinds of alerts to citizens' mobile phones. Today there are 13,565 registered aliases that will be able to continue sending messages, but the trend of requests varies and is growing, according to the CNMC. In fact, there are currently about 4,000 aliases pending approval.

For holidays, as we have more free time, the hours we spend in front of screens tend to increase. And more time on our mobile or computer also means being more exposed to the dangers of the internet, such as fraud or scams. For this reason, as explained by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), it is important to keep three basic tips in mind: messages from unknown origins should not be opened, one should be wary of bargains and alarmist messages, and it should be taken into account that no company or bank asks for banking details via phone, email, or text message.

Being able to verify the names or brands behind the messages we receive on our mobiles in order to avoid scams. The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has approved the regulation of an alias registry that will allow verification that the senders in SMS, MMS or RCS messages sent to Spanish numbers are really who they claim to be. As the public entity has explained, the objective of the measure is to restore user confidence in electronic communications through messages. It will also serve to strengthen the fight against fraud attempts through identity theft, an increasingly frequent practice. From June 7, messages from all those who falsify their identity will begin to be blocked.