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The '''Phone Number Prefix Normative''' (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos), also known as the "''anti-spam law''" is a modification of the Chilean Telecommunications Subsecretary Exempt N° 1319. The modification was announced by the Chilean government in March 2025<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=SUBTEL |date=20 March 2025 |title=Gobierno anuncia implementación de numeración especial para la identificación de llamadas comerciales |trans-title=Government announces the implementation of special numeration for identifying commercial calls |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/gobierno-anuncia-implementacion-de-numeracion-especial-para-la-identificacion-de-llamadas-comerciales/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref> and has been taking effect since August 13, 2025. The purpose of this law is to mandate commercial phone numbers to add fixed number prefixes to be easily identified by Chilean consumers and to prevent scams and malicious phone calls disguised as commercial calls. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Defensa y Justicia |date=14 Aug 2025 |title=Chile estrena prefijos 600 y 809: así cambian las llamadas comerciales (y cómo evitar estafas) |trans-title=Chile releases 600 and 809 prefixes: this is how commercial calls change (and how to avoid scams) |url=https://defensayjusticia.cl/ley-antispam-600-809-chile-2025/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Defensa y Justicia Abogados}}</ref>
The '''Phone Number Prefix Normative''' (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos), also known as the "''anti-spam law''" is a modification of the Chilean Telecommunications Subsecretary (Subtel) Exempt N° 1319, a group of legislations and normatives that involve phone number structuration and management. The number prefix normative was announced by the Chilean government in March 2025<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=SUBTEL |date=20 March 2025 |title=Gobierno anuncia implementación de numeración especial para la identificación de llamadas comerciales |trans-title=Government announces the implementation of special numeration for identifying commercial calls |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/gobierno-anuncia-implementacion-de-numeracion-especial-para-la-identificacion-de-llamadas-comerciales/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref> and has been taking effect since August 13, 2025. The purpose of this law is to mandate commercial phone numbers to add fixed number prefixes to be easily identified by Chilean consumers and prevent scams and malicious phone calls disguised as commercial calls. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Defensa y Justicia |date=14 Aug 2025 |title=Chile estrena prefijos 600 y 809: así cambian las llamadas comerciales (y cómo evitar estafas) |trans-title=Chile releases 600 and 809 prefixes: this is how commercial calls change (and how to avoid scams) |url=https://defensayjusticia.cl/ley-antispam-600-809-chile-2025/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Defensa y Justicia Abogados}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
Researches done in the country have reported the amount of average spam calls a person receives per month has increased the last years. The quantity of reports of fraudulent calls to the police also have increased.
Researches done in the country have reported the average monthly amount of undesired publicitary phone calls ("spam calls") received by a Chilean have been increased during the last years. Along with this, the amount of reports to police about fraudulent calls have also increased.  


According to a research of the national Investigation Police (PDI), during 2024, the total amount of reports of fraudulent was 4,533. This quantity was 19% higher than the amunts of reports that were done in 2023. <ref>{{Cite web |author=SUBTEL |date=12 Aug 2025 |title=Desde este miércoles las llamadas comerciales y masivas deberán llevar los prefijos 600 y 809 para su identificación |trans-title=Starting this wednesday, commercial and massive calls must have 600 and 809 prefixes in order to be identified |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/desde-este-miercoles-las-llamadas-comerciales-y-masivas-deberan-llevar-los-prefijos-600-y-809-para-su-identificacion/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=SUBTEL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=CNN Chile |date=5 Feb 2025 |title=Estafas telefónicas van al alza: Denuncias aumentaron un 19% durante 2024 |trans-title=Phone scams are in rise: Reports were increased by 19% during 2024 |url=https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/estafas-telefonicas-van-al-alza-denuncias-aumentaron-un-19-durante-2024_20250205/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=CNN Chile}}</ref>
Researches and reports by [[wikipedia:Hiya_(company)|Hiya]] done in 2024 stated that in Chile, a person receives an average of 28 spam calls per month, with Brazil also sharing this amount. This was the highest number of average monthly spam calls registered in Latin America during that year. Hiya's research also stated 25% of these calls were meant to be fraudulent phone calls. The same research done in 2023 showed the average quantity of monthly spam was lower, with 20 calls per month. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Fernando |date=7 Apr 2025 |title=Llamadas Spam: estudio muestra cuántas recibe cada chileno al mes |trans-title=Spam Calls: research shows how many receives every Chilean per month |url=https://www.latercera.com/pulso/noticia/llamadas-spam-estudio-muestra-cuantas-recibe-cada-chileno-al-mes/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Feb 2026 |website=La Tercera}}</ref>
 
According to a research of the Chilean Investigation Police (PDI) done in 2024, the total amount of reports of fraudulent phone calls was of 4,533. This quantity was 19% higher than the amounts of reports that were done in 2023. <ref>{{Cite web |author=Subtel |date=12 Aug 2025 |title=Desde este miércoles las llamadas comerciales y masivas deberán llevar los prefijos 600 y 809 para su identificación |trans-title=Starting this wednesday, commercial and massive calls must have 600 and 809 prefixes in order to be identified |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/desde-este-miercoles-las-llamadas-comerciales-y-masivas-deberan-llevar-los-prefijos-600-y-809-para-su-identificacion/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=CNN Chile |date=5 Feb 2025 |title=Estafas telefónicas van al alza: Denuncias aumentaron un 19% durante 2024 |trans-title=Phone scams are in rise: Reports were increased by 19% during 2024 |url=https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/estafas-telefonicas-van-al-alza-denuncias-aumentaron-un-19-durante-2024_20250205/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=CNN Chile}}</ref>


Also, researches and reports by [[wikipedia:Hiya_(company)|Hiya]] done in 2024 stated that in Chile, a person receives an average of 28 spam calls per month, being a number that shares with Brazil, also being the highest number in Latin America. The research also stated a 25% of these calls belonged to fraudulent phone calls. The same research done in 2023 showed the average quantity of spam calls per month was 20. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Fernando |date=7 Apr 2025 |title=Llamadas Spam: estudio muestra cuántas recibe cada chileno al mes |trans-title=Spam Calls: research shows how many receives every Chilean per month |url=https://www.latercera.com/pulso/noticia/llamadas-spam-estudio-muestra-cuantas-recibe-cada-chileno-al-mes/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Feb 2026 |website=La Tercera}}</ref>


==Exempt modification and effects==
==Exempt modification and effects==
[[File:Prefixescl.png|thumb|An official Image from the Chilean Government and Subtel, showing a brief explanation of the norm]]
[[File:Prefixescl.png|thumb|An official image from the Chilean Government and Subtel, showing a brief explanation of the exempt modification]]
All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls are forced to add a prefix to their numbers in order to be recognizable:  
All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls, SMS or MMS messages with publicitary or informative purposes about a product, service, scheduling or activity confirmation, are mandated to add fixed number prefixes to their phone numbers in order to be recognizable for the consumers. Any company that does not comply will have to pay a fine between 5 and 5,000 UTM (approximately between $406 and $405,784). Consumers are able to report to Subtel if they find a company that is not complying with the norm.
 
===Prefix number 600===
The prefix  '''600''' is a prefix number that indicates a  phone number is dedicated to do consented or requested calls or messages to an user or subscriber.
 
===Prefix number 809===
The prefix '''809''' is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do unrequested or unconsented publicitary calls or messages to an user or subscriber. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Estrella Oporto |first=Sandar |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=El nuevo prefijo para identificar las llamadas de spam o no deseadas |trans-title=The new prefix for identifying spam or undesired calls |url=https://www.latercera.com/servicios/noticia/el-nuevo-prefijo-para-identificar-las-llamadas-de-spam-o-no-deseadas/ |url-status=live |website=La Tercera |access-date=25 Feb 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=WOM Chile |date=2025 |title=¿En qué consiste la Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos? |trans-title=What does the Number Prefix Normative consist of? |url=https://www.wom.cl/centro-de-ayuda/en-que-consiste-la-norma-de-prefijos-telefonicos/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WOM Chile}}</ref>


*The prefix '''600''' in a number is used to identify numbers that belong to entities that do phone calls with publicitary purposes that are desired, requested, expected by the user or accepted by service contracts.
===Exceptions===
*The prefix '''809''' in a number is used to identify numbers that belong to entities that do phone calls with publicitary purposes that are undesired by the user. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Estrella Oporto |first=Sandar |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=El nuevo prefijo para identificar las llamadas de spam o no deseadas |trans-title=The new prefix for identifying spam or undesired calls |url=https://www.latercera.com/servicios/noticia/el-nuevo-prefijo-para-identificar-las-llamadas-de-spam-o-no-deseadas/ |url-status=live |website=La Tercera |access-date=25 Feb 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=WOM Chile |date=2025 |title=¿En qué consiste la Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos? |trans-title=What does the Telephone Prefix Norm consist of? |url=https://www.wom.cl/centro-de-ayuda/en-que-consiste-la-norma-de-prefijos-telefonicos/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WOM Chile}}</ref>
The law does not mandate phones that send messages via [[Whatsapp]] or similar applications to modify their prefixes.  


This law also allows to identify better what publicitary calls are scams, by identifying if the number that called has or doesn't have these prefixes.
Since March 2026, the Chilean Supreme Court stated the law will no longer affect phone numbers belonging to retailers, due to their claim the prefixes modification affected their ability to contact with in-debt customers.  


Companies that do not comply or that use a different prefix are fined with an approximate amount that can vary between $406 and $405,784. Consumers are able to report to the Telephonic Subsecretary (SUBTEL) if they find a company that is not complying with the norm.


==Consequences==
==Consequences==
According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial cals from the number prefixes, and 79% of them do not answer these calls after the implementation of the law. <ref>{{Cite web |author=CHH |date=20 Jan 2026 |title=Cadem 5C: 79% de los chilenos no contesta llamadas con prefijos 600 y 809 |trans-title=Cadem 5C: 79% of Chileans do not answer phone calls with the 600 and 809 prefixes |url=https://www.chicureohoy.cl/actualidad/cadem-5c-79-de-los-chilenos-no-contesta-llamadas-con-prefijos-600-y-809/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Chicureo Hoy}}</ref>
According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial calls from the number prefixes and 79% of them do not answer these calls after the implementation of the law. <ref>{{Cite web |author=CHH |date=20 Jan 2026 |title=Cadem 5C: 79% de los chilenos no contesta llamadas con prefijos 600 y 809 |trans-title=Cadem 5C: 79% of Chileans do not answer phone calls with 600 and 809 prefixes |url=https://www.chicureohoy.cl/actualidad/cadem-5c-79-de-los-chilenos-no-contesta-llamadas-con-prefijos-600-y-809/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Chicureo Hoy}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:45, 7 April 2026

The Phone Number Prefix Normative (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos), also known as the "anti-spam law" is a modification of the Chilean Telecommunications Subsecretary (Subtel) Exempt N° 1319, a group of legislations and normatives that involve phone number structuration and management. The number prefix normative was announced by the Chilean government in March 2025[1] and has been taking effect since August 13, 2025. The purpose of this law is to mandate commercial phone numbers to add fixed number prefixes to be easily identified by Chilean consumers and prevent scams and malicious phone calls disguised as commercial calls. [2]

Background

Researches done in the country have reported the average monthly amount of undesired publicitary phone calls ("spam calls") received by a Chilean have been increased during the last years. Along with this, the amount of reports to police about fraudulent calls have also increased.

Researches and reports by Hiya done in 2024 stated that in Chile, a person receives an average of 28 spam calls per month, with Brazil also sharing this amount. This was the highest number of average monthly spam calls registered in Latin America during that year. Hiya's research also stated 25% of these calls were meant to be fraudulent phone calls. The same research done in 2023 showed the average quantity of monthly spam was lower, with 20 calls per month. [3]

According to a research of the Chilean Investigation Police (PDI) done in 2024, the total amount of reports of fraudulent phone calls was of 4,533. This quantity was 19% higher than the amounts of reports that were done in 2023. [4][5]


Exempt modification and effects

An official image from the Chilean Government and Subtel, showing a brief explanation of the exempt modification

All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls, SMS or MMS messages with publicitary or informative purposes about a product, service, scheduling or activity confirmation, are mandated to add fixed number prefixes to their phone numbers in order to be recognizable for the consumers. Any company that does not comply will have to pay a fine between 5 and 5,000 UTM (approximately between $406 and $405,784). Consumers are able to report to Subtel if they find a company that is not complying with the norm.

Prefix number 600

The prefix 600 is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do consented or requested calls or messages to an user or subscriber.

Prefix number 809

The prefix 809 is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do unrequested or unconsented publicitary calls or messages to an user or subscriber. [6] [7]

Exceptions

The law does not mandate phones that send messages via Whatsapp or similar applications to modify their prefixes.

Since March 2026, the Chilean Supreme Court stated the law will no longer affect phone numbers belonging to retailers, due to their claim the prefixes modification affected their ability to contact with in-debt customers.


Consequences

According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial calls from the number prefixes and 79% of them do not answer these calls after the implementation of the law. [8]

References

  1. "Gobierno anuncia implementación de numeración especial para la identificación de llamadas comerciales" [Government announces the implementation of special numeration for identifying commercial calls]. Subtel. SUBTEL. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Chile estrena prefijos 600 y 809: así cambian las llamadas comerciales (y cómo evitar estafas)" [Chile releases 600 and 809 prefixes: this is how commercial calls change (and how to avoid scams)]. Defensa y Justicia Abogados. Defensa y Justicia. 14 Aug 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Vega, Fernando (7 Apr 2025). "Llamadas Spam: estudio muestra cuántas recibe cada chileno al mes" [Spam Calls: research shows how many receives every Chilean per month]. La Tercera. Retrieved 24 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. Subtel (12 Aug 2025). "Desde este miércoles las llamadas comerciales y masivas deberán llevar los prefijos 600 y 809 para su identificación" [Starting this wednesday, commercial and massive calls must have 600 and 809 prefixes in order to be identified]. Subtel. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Estafas telefónicas van al alza: Denuncias aumentaron un 19% durante 2024" [Phone scams are in rise: Reports were increased by 19% during 2024]. CNN Chile. CNN Chile. 5 Feb 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. Estrella Oporto, Sandar (9 Aug 2025). "El nuevo prefijo para identificar las llamadas de spam o no deseadas" [The new prefix for identifying spam or undesired calls]. La Tercera. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "¿En qué consiste la Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos?" [What does the Number Prefix Normative consist of?]. WOM Chile. WOM Chile. 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. CHH (20 Jan 2026). "Cadem 5C: 79% de los chilenos no contesta llamadas con prefijos 600 y 809" [Cadem 5C: 79% of Chileans do not answer phone calls with 600 and 809 prefixes]. Chicureo Hoy. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)