MidLand, Jakarta – In the digital age and growing dependence on telecommunications technologies, telephone number often a person’s digital identity. Phone numbers are used not only to communicate, but also to access important services such as online banking, two-factor verification, and other financial services.
It is therefore important to ensure this telephone number used is legally owned and associated with the person who actually has access rights to the number.
In this context, the practice of phone number laundering can pose significant security and privacy risks. If a number previously associated with a financial service or other digital identity is recycled and assigned to a new person, this could lead to confusion, loss of access, or even misuse of the identity.
So, what are the current legal rules regarding phone numbers recycled by cellular operators?
The mobile number recycling policy has been officially regulated in the Regulations Minister of Communication and Information Number 14 of 2018 concerning the National Fundamental Technical Plan for Telecommunications.
This regulation stipulates that inactive or unused mobile numbers must be reused for other potential users who need them. The objective is to optimize the use of available telecommunications resources and reduce resource waste.
According to this policy, unused mobile numbers will be recycled within 60 calendar days. This means that if within this period the number holder does not use or carry out any activity with the mobile number, the number will be considered inactive and will be confiscated. Subsequently the number will be recycled to be given to other potential users who will need a new number.
This policy is an effort to ensure that available mobile numbers remain used efficiently and are not left idle for no apparent reason. In this way, telecom service providers can ensure that their resources are maximized and can provide better services to their users.
While this mobile number recycling policy can help efficiently manage telecom resources, it is also important to pay attention to user security and privacy. Therefore, stringent data protection and verification measures must also be implemented to ensure that previous users are not negatively affected by this mobile number recycling process.
On the other hand, reports from Readers’ Collection, states that there are five potential risks that could arise from the misuse of phone numbers by criminals. In addition to the risk of accessing personal data, there are other potentials that include the ability to access victims’ emails, make fraudulent calls or text messages, and commit identity theft.
1. Access to personal data
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One of the main risks arising from the abuse of telephone numbers is the potential access of criminals to users’ personal data. This includes sensitive information such as name, address, date of birth and bank account number.
2. Access to the victim’s email
By having access to a phone number, a criminal can attempt to access the victim’s email account. From here they can steal personal information, access confidential information, or even take further actions such as sending fraudulent emails to the victim’s contacts.
3. Fraudulent calls and SMS
Compromised or misused phone numbers can also be used to make fraudulent calls or send fraudulent text messages to other people. This includes fraud such as fake offers, prize winning notifications, or false claims from financial institutions.
4. Identity theft
By having access to a person’s phone number, criminals can also attempt to commit identity theft. They may use these phone numbers as part of a larger fraud scheme, such as opening fake accounts, applying for loans, or performing other financial transactions in the victim’s name.
5. Potential Security Threats
The misuse of telephone numbers can also pose a threat to general security. For example, a compromised phone number could be used to send malicious text messages containing malware or phishing links, which could damage devices or steal sensitive information.
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