Mobile persecution

I believe that many, like myself receive ‘unwanted mobile phone calls’. Here I do not refer to those calls, which, after the routine ‘hello’, move on to a flurry of personal insults.

Irefer to all those calls which we receive from far away countries, of which many have not even heard the name, let alone visited, or have connections with. These phone calls are irritating all those who receive them. They are making our life miserable, and in many cases are also draining our pockets. Something has to be done to stop this mess.

I believe that the Malta Communications Authority should intervene. If MCA decides not to intervene the operators themselves should intervene to stop this harassment.

I am informed that the operators have the facility to block calls, whichever destination they are coming from. With this in mind action has to be taken to defend the customers who are served by the local operators.

It might look drastic, but I believe these same operators should move on to adopt an 'opt in' policy. All calls coming from Vanuatu, Samoa, Congo and the like should be blocked, and those customers who are in contact with these countries would then ask the operators to open their personal contacts with similar countries.

I believe that the operators and the MCA should cooperate with each other to ensure that the general public is protected from unwanted calls.

I do not know whether the MCA has received complaints about this harassment or not. I know for sure that the operators were contacted about this problem. What I am really sure of is the fact that we (mobile phone owners), should not be harassed in the way we are being harassed.

Mobile communications have become an integral part of our daily life. I do not know the real reason behind these calls. It is definitely not a hobby among some restricted group of individuals who are betting amongst themselves about who will get the largest number of responses.

“I am informed that the operators have the facility to block calls, whichever destination they are coming from

It must be part of some well organized and orchestrated network which is trying to get hold of information regarding those who answer them. I do not know whether this network is itself part of some other type of criminal activity.

What I am sure if is that in this day and age people are getting hold of our details for abusive reasons. It was discovered that Facebook posts are analysed and passed on to various interested parties. This same information is then used to bombard people with 'the right message'.

Social media is used to discredit people, or to send messages which are very far from the truth. May I ask whether there is some sort of connection between those calling us from so far away, with those who, then, make use of information from our credit cards to defraud us? May I ask whether such a relationship could be established and whether the mobile communications operators can stop such attempts.

To be honest I have no answer to those questions. Yet I know for sure that we are being persecuted by these calls. It is a persecution that should be stopped.

Those who have the power and the authority to stop this persecution should do so as quickly as possible.