At present some telemarketers have deployed the so-called "missed call" tactic to deliver their pre-recorded telemarketing telephone messages to callers. Specifically, these telemarketers deliberately hang up the calls within one or two rings while leaving their phone numbers through "the calling number display" function on the phones of the called parties. When the called party returns call to the number left by the telemarketer in the belief that he/she has a missed call, the telemarketer will automatically play the pre-recorded telemarketing telephone messages.
We wish to advise members of the public that all telemarketing calls sent in the form of pre-recorded telephone messages, including those sent using the "missed call" tactics, are classified as commercial electronic messages (CEMs) and are subject to the regulation under the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance (UEMO).
What can you do if you do not want to receive unsolicited CEMs?
Pursuant to the UEMO, if you do not want to receive unsolicited CEMs, you may :
- make unsubscribe request to the sender;
- register your phone number onto the Do-Not-Call Register (DNC) for pre-recorded CEMs maintained by Communications Authority (CA) by dialling 183 5000. The registration is free of charge. The protection against unsolicited CEMs will commence 10 working days after the registration.
How can I report on unsolicited CEMs delivered through the "missed call" tactic?
Please report your case to CA if you:
- continue to receive CEMs despite that you have already made an unsubscribe request to the sender for more than 10 working days;
- receive CEMs after you have registered your telephone number onto the DNC for at least 10 working days, unless the sender has obtained your consent to send CEMs to you;
- receive CEMs which do not include sender information or unsubscribe facilities as required by the UEMO.
You may download the report form at the Office of the Communications Authority's web site. Alternatively you may call CA's hotline at 2961 6333. Upon receiving your report, CA will commence investigation into the case. If there is any breach of the provisions under the UEMO, CA will consider taking appropriate enforcement action. In order to facilitate our investigation, you are requested to provide the following essential information when filing your report:
- the date and time the missed call was received;
- the number of line(s)/phone(s) receiving the missed call;
- the content of the message and other contact information provided in the message, such as telephone number; and
- any other information you consider that may help CA handle your report.
More information about the enforcement of UEMO
For more information about the enforcement of UEMO, please visit our website or call our hotline at 2961 6333.
