The bill was drafted by a group of lawmakers from the “Partidul Nostru” parliamentary faction. According to the explanatory memorandum, the legislative initiative is prompted by an alarming increase in the number of cases of telephone fraud committed via electronic communications, including the use of spoofed phone numbers, calls from unverified sources, and prepaid mobile services (cards) activated without user identification.
Calls initiated from outside the territory of the Republic of Moldova that display numbers from the National Numbering Plan will be subject to additional verification measures, labeling, or blocking in accordance with the requirements approved by the National Agency for Electronic Communications Regulation.
Providers that fail to comply with these obligations face fines of up to 75,000 lei.
The bill also introduces the requirement to activate prepaid SIM cards exclusively on the basis of a valid identification document. Consequently, the provision of services for prepaid numbers whose users are not identified within the timeframe established by the National Agency for Electronic Communications Regulation will be suspended. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in fines of up to 75,000 lei.
At the same time, the sale, distribution, or activation of SIM cards without user identification will be punishable by fines of up to 50,000 lei for individuals and up to 75,000 lei for legal entities.
Penalties for Spoofing the Calling Line Identifier
The document also provides for sanctions for the use of equipment designed to unauthorizedly spoof the calling line identifier, including through the unlawful use of SIM cards, eSIM profiles, SIM-box-type equipment, GSM gateways, or other similar technical means. The fine for this violation will be up to 75,000 lei.
By the second reading, this bill will be combined with a draft amendment to the Law on Electronic Communications developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This document was previously adopted in the first reading and provides for the mandatory activation of prepaid SIM cards only after the user has been identified on the basis of an identity document.
