ANATEL Launches Website for Prepaid Phone Line Registration Search Using CPF

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, January 6th, the Prepaid Lines Search Website, a tool through which consumers can check the existence of active prepaid lines registered to their CPFs (Individual Tax Registration Number), started operating in Brazil.

The search can be performed at this website, where undue registrations may be identified, in order to prevent the occurrence of fraud with improperly associated lines.

According to the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), the service will be implemented gradually. In this first moment, access will be available only for consumers in Brazil’s North Region. From January 15th on, access will be provided to clients from the Center West and Northeast regions. Customers from the South and Southeast regions will have access to the website database from January 22nd.

Currently, the prepaid service counts 122.3 million lines, registered by Algar, Claro, Oi, Sercomtel, Tim and Vivo operators. According to ANATEL, the initiative aims “to ensure a correct and updated service registration base in order to prevent the occurrence of subscription fraud (lines improperly associated to CPFs) and thus provide greater security to consumers.

According to ANATEL, the service does not include information on postpaid cell phone lines. Moreover, the webpage provides guidelines for those who identify the existence of improperly registered lines in their name. In this event, customers should reach the operator in order to correct the information.

“It is worth noting that the request for cancellation/disconnection by consumers should be met within 24 hours if the request is executed through an attendant and up to 48 working hours if requested through the provider’s call center or website without the intervention of an attendant”.

“To ensure consumer safety, it will be necessary to confirm data showing that consumers are the CPF holders, to make this cancellation”, informed ANATEL.