THE COMMISSION FOR Communications Regulation (ComReg) has blocked over 131 million scam phone calls between February 2023 and October of this year, new figures show. 

Of those, over 18 million calls were blocked in September 2025 alone. 

It comes after the regulator implemented a number of measures to crack down on the number of scam calls and texts that people receive. 

The volume of scam calls has grown massively in recent years. At one stage, research found that almost three-quarters of all adults had received a scam call in the last month. 

ComReg is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications, postal and premium rate sectors in Ireland.

In a statement, it said it will deploy new measures in the first half of next year aimed at blocking spam calls, “notably including those which spoof international numbers”. 

ComReg works in conjunction with the regulatory authorities in other countries to tackle the issue of scam calls. 

After a period of consultation in April last year, it came up with five interventions to try to combat the calls. These have been implemented since October last year through an industry-wide forum. 

The interventions include a ‘Do-Not-Originate’ list, which allows businesses and other organisations to secure their numbers by blocking numbers not used to contact consumers, and a ‘Protected Numbers’ list to stop fraudsters using numbers that have not been allocated to a telecoms operator before entering service. 

ComReg has also introduced fixed and mobile CLI call blocking, to stop scammers abroad from spoofing Irish phone numbers to make scam calls. 

A new firewall in the first half of next year will use advanced real time call data analytics and machine learning to detect and act on unusual patterns of call signalling data, traffic volumes and call originating location.

The regulator said the interventions “ably demonstrates why a multilayered defence is essential to combat scammers; each intervention blocks scam calls in different ways, but it is their collective impact that is critical to protecting consumers”.

“As a result, Irish consumers are now receiving far fewer scam calls, which should result in reduced instances of financial loss and emotional harm and distress.”

ComReg went on to say it will continue to work with industry “to oversee the implementation and maintenance of existing and any new anti-scam interventions”.

It also said it will track scamming activities and identify trends and developing threats “through ongoing monitoring and intelligence gathering”. 

The regulator said that people should remain vigilant and be prudent with all calls and texts that they receive, and to avoid clicking on or using URLs or providing personal information, such as bank details, PPS numbers, or credit card details.