Calls to 09-48 or 01-62: identify your phone harassers and learn how to stop them permanently

Receiving phone calls from the numbers 09-48 or 01-62 has become a real scourge for many users in France. These numbers, associated with phone harassment and abusive telemarketing, seem to appear at all hours, often with a more or less insistent commercial message. Together, we will discover:

• the precise origin of these prefixes and their use by call centers;
• the reasons explaining the persistence of this phenomenon despite laws regulating telemarketing;
• reliable methods to identify your harassers and block unwanted calls;
• tools and technological solutions to stop phone harassment;
• recent and upcoming legislative developments to ensure your privacy protection and strengthen phone security.

Each point will be treated in detail to provide you with a clear and pragmatic understanding of this issue that affects both individuals and professionals. Thus, you will be better able to protect your daily life against these intrusive calls and regain control of your phone.

Understanding the origin of phone calls from 09-48: the mechanics of VoIP call centers

The 09-48 numbers have become the hallmark of massive telemarketing campaigns in France. These are virtual numbers assigned thanks to VoIP technology (Voice over IP), which allows calls to be routed via the Internet rather than traditional telephone lines. This technical flexibility provides call centers with a real logistical advantage:

• 09-48 numbers are not linked to a specific location, unlike geographic numbers such as 01, 02, etc.;
• they are rented in bulk from telecom operators, allowing entities to quickly create thousands of virtual numbers;
• they facilitate automated call campaigns, often generated by robots dialing numbers without direct human intervention;
• their virtual nature makes it difficult to precisely identify the callers, especially when they quickly change numbers.

For example, a company specializing in selling insurance contracts will launch a campaign by renting several 09-48 numbers, ensuring that its calls surpass the limits imposed by classic blocking. It can thus reach thousands of potential prospects daily.

Paradoxically, this method has a boomerang effect. The absence of precise geolocation and the multiplication of numbers sometimes lead to multiple calls being sent to the same person via different numbers, which increases the feeling of phone harassment.

The use of VoIP thus proves to be a double-edged sword for telemarketers while victims struggle to identify the harassers or block calls on their personal devices. It is a real headache for internet service providers and telecom operators, who must constantly update their anti-spam filters.

This technical strategy partly explains why, despite strengthened regulations and systems like Bloctel, the phenomenon remains entrenched in habits. The telemarketing industry plays a game of cat-and-mouse, using 09-48 numbers as their weapon of choice.

Deciphering the 01-62 numbers: fake local prefixes and foreign platforms

While the 09-48 numbers are the emblem of virtual numbers, 01-62 numbers play on another important psychological chord: apparent proximity. Indeed, 01 is the traditional dialing code used in the Île-de-France region. But 01-62, unlike what one might think, does not correspond to a real geographic area, and often serves as a mask.

This is a form of spoofing, where telemarketing platforms can rent this prefix to create the illusion of a local call, encouraging people to answer more easily. The most troubling aspect is that these numbers are often issued from call centers located abroad, particularly in countries with much laxer regulation.

For example, a call center based in Eastern Europe or North Africa may use a 01-62 number to telemarket to a Parisian consumer. The process aims to:

• strengthen trust and reduce suspicion related to unknown calls;
• increase engagement chances and commercial success on often considered invasive offers;
• bypass national recommendations regarding time slots and calling frequency.

The companies behind these practices continuously rent and alternate these numbers. Some configurations even alternate calls between 01-62 and 09-48, complicating the task for users who want effective privacy protection.

For consumers, this opacity regarding the origin of communications makes identifying the harasser extremely difficult. Some numbers disappear after a call or change regularly, making simple blocking ineffective. This technique is particularly prevalent with so-called “sensitive” offers such as energy contracts, insurance, or insulation work.

This illusion of proximity thus maintains a deceptive trust relationship, increasing commercial pressure while making the fight against phone harassment complex.

Why phone harassment via 09-48 and 01-62 persists despite legislation

Phone harassment through these numbers persists due to several combined factors, notably:

1. The diversity and speed of circumvention techniques: telemarketers constantly use modified numbers, spoofing techniques to mask real identification, and change digital identities to remain invisible.
2. The total absence of international standardization: the most aggressive campaigns are often orchestrated from abroad, escaping French and European regulation.
3. A strong commercial demand: certain sectors, like insurance or energy renovation work, make massive use of telemarketing despite public outcry.
4. The limits of legal measures: even though the law regulates time slots and limits the number of calls, sanctions often remain insufficiently deterrent given the gains generated by these massive campaigns.
5. The lack of awareness and effective tools for users: many do not know the solutions available to stop harassment, or struggle to implement them properly.

For example, the French law of 2023 now requires telemarketing calls to be made between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., excluding weekends and public holidays. But call tactics at legally permitted yet inappropriate hours (early morning, late evening) often lead to harassment experienced as an intrusion.

Moreover, “test” campaigns often target a wide range of numbers to check if they are active, without necessarily making a commercial offer on the first call. This phase allows the collection of data for commercial or fraudulent purposes.

It becomes obvious that legal frameworks alone are not enough, and that individual vigilance, technological tools, and strengthened sanctions must be combined to truly protect victims.

Concrete solutions to block calls and stop phone harassment permanently

To regain control against these invasive phone calls, several concrete solutions are available to you:

• Registration on Bloctel: the official French platform that allows you to oppose telemarketing, free and accessible. Despite limitations, it is a first barrier.
• Specialized applications: tools like Truecaller or Orange Stop Pub analyze calls in real time and automatically block numbers recognized as malicious or abusive commercial calls.
• Phone settings: activate features like “Do Not Disturb” mode, or configure filtering of calls from unknown or hidden numbers.
• Reporting abuses: number, time, and content of calls must be regularly reported, notably via dedicated apps or directly to Arcep.
• Protection of personal data: avoid sharing your number on poorly secured platforms or during online contests, which can feed databases used by telemarketers.

The table below summarizes these practical leads to better understand and apply harassment prevention via phone:

Solution	Advantages	Limits	Example of tool
Bloctel	Free, official, easy to use	Sometimes lacks effectiveness, especially against foreign numbers	bloctel.gouv.fr
Mobile applications	Automatic filtering, regular updates of blocked numbers	Requires sharing personal data	Truecaller, Orange Stop Pub
Do Not Disturb mode	Simple filtering, easy to activate	May also block important calls	Smartphone settings
Reports to Arcep	Allows complaint tracking, reinforces controls	No immediate effect, depends on authorities’ responsiveness	Arcep Portal

These recommendations have already enabled many users to ease the pressure of abusive calls. A regular act of attention, combined with the use of the right technology, noticeably transforms the phone experience.

Legislative developments and prospects for better phone security against harassment

Since 2023, French legislation has strengthened the rules governing commercial calls, clearly requiring:

• the use of easily identifiable calling numbers, prohibiting masking of origin through certain techniques;
• a strict limit on the number of calls, no more than four per month to the same person for the same prospect or service;
• regulated time slots, excluding weekends and holidays to respect users’ tranquility.

Faced with persistent limits, the major expected reform is the introduction of the generalized “opt-in” principle from August 2026. From now on, no telemarketing can legally be carried out without the explicit consent of the consumer. This measure, which companies must prove under penalty of increased sanctions, is a significant step forward in the fight against this harassment.

Fines have significantly increased, now reaching up to €75,000 for a standard violation, with penalties exceeding €600,000 applied to major groups such as EDF or Canal+. These measures encourage professionals to rethink their practices and adhere more strictly to the legal framework.

This prospect sends a strong signal for the future, even if vigilance remains necessary in a context where circumvention tactics constantly evolve. It is an invitation to combine regulation, technology, and responsible behavior to ensure better privacy protection and greater phone security on a daily basis.