Telecom companies have 90 days to come up with ‘technical solutions … to block illegitimate nuisance calls,” and 180 days to report back on features they can offer.

(CBC)

That direct message comes from the agency that regulates them, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission.

If the companies don’t provide what the CRTC consider sufficient measures to protect you against unwanted calls then the regulator vows to take further action.

The national Do Not Call List was launched in 2008 and has 13-million numbers on it.

But now the CRTC’s pushing companies to crack down on new tricks some telemarketers are using to get around the ban and gain access to mobile numbers.

One such tactic is ID spoofing, where marketers hide by displaying phony numbers you’re more likely to answer.