Spam calls, which can relate to everything from fraudulent loans to real estate agents, have become a common problem for many people. A young local IT specialist, 30-year-old Mathew Riddle, grew tired of this phenomenon. It was after being woken up by a spam call one morning that he decided to create his application, FokOffMense, which allows users to report spammers and block them.
The name of the application was conceived easily because, as Riddle noted, 'we South Africans are all annoyed by spam callers. Every time they call, you want to say f*kof.' The application functions similarly to the popular Swedish call checking service Truecaller: users can block numbers using reports from the user community. However, this domestic development goes further by allowing users to submit official requests in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) through the app itself and escalate cases to the Information Regulator if companies do not respond.
Another feature is that other users receive notifications about flagged numbers, giving them the opportunity to block them even before the spammer contacts them. FokOffMense was launched this month and already has over 50 users and has registered 700 violation reports. Riddle reported that thanks to the feedback received, people were getting responses from companies.
The system also includes anti-abuse mechanisms. Riddle explained that if a user tries to block an ex-girlfriend or a debt collection agency, it will not happen automatically or be added to the list. For this, the number must be flagged more than once, around 10 times. The user chooses whom to block, and there are disclaimers explaining all these points.
Currently, a free version of the application is available, as well as a premium version costing R99 and a family version covering up to five people for R279 per month. According to the latest Global Trends Report from Truecaller, South Africa is among the top ten countries globally with the highest number of spam calls, with nearly 30% of calls from unknown numbers being identified as spam. The situation is worsening: only in the first quarter of this year, the country recorded 8.72 billion spam calls and 1.92 billion spam messages.
South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) prohibits companies from making unsolicited marketing calls or messages without a person's consent. The Information Regulator has also confirmed that phone calls fall under the definition of electronic communication, thereby closing a loophole that telemarketers had long exploited. Businesses that ignore the law may face compulsory measures, including fines of up to 10 million rand or even imprisonment for non-compliance. Despite the introduction of these stricter rules, spam calls remain a daily annoyance for many residents of South Africa. Riddle believes that his application provides people with a practical way to counter this.
A young IT specialist from South Africa has created the FokOffMense application, which allows users to report and block spammers. The idea came about after the developer was woken up by a spam call at six in the morning.
The FokOffMense application, developed by 30-year-old IT specialist Matthew Riddell, was launched in early July. Riddell noted that residents of South Africa are highly irritated by calls from spammers and often want to say 'fokof'—a rude Afrikaans expression meaning 'get lost.'
The mechanism of FokOffMense is similar to the popular Swedish service Truecaller: it identifies and blocks numbers using reports from the user community. However, Riddell's version has an additional feature: users can submit official requests through the app in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and escalate cases to the Information Regulator if companies do not respond.
When a user receives a spam call or email, they can report and block the number within the app. Other users receive a notification of this report and can also block the number, even if the spammer has not contacted them yet. Ten days after launch, the application had 50 users and registered 700 spam reports.
Riddell emphasized that the system has anti-abuse mechanisms. He explained that automatic blocking or listing will not occur if a user attempts to block an ex-girlfriend or a debt collection agency; for this, the number must have been reported more than ten times. Users choose whom to block themselves, and the app contains appropriate disclaimers.
The application contains no advertising, even in the free version. A premium version is available for 99 rand, and a family version for five people costs 279 rand. Riddell is unconcerned that the name might offend someone, noting that survey results found the name amusing.
This project helps combat a problem that official data shows as a losing battle for South Africa. According to the latest Global Trends Report from Truecaller, South Africa has entered the top ten countries most affected by spam calls globally, where nearly 30% of calls from unknown numbers are identified as spam. The problem is worsening: in the first quarter of this year alone, the country recorded 8.72 billion spam calls and 1.92 billion spam messages.
The POPIA Act prohibits direct marketing via unsolicited electronic communication without consent. The Information Regulator confirmed in its guidelines that phone calls constitute electronic communication, thereby closing a loophole that telemarketers exploited for years. Companies violating the rules face compliance orders, and non-compliance can result in a fine of up to 10 million rand or imprisonment.
Despite the tightening regulations, calls continue to come in, and Riddell believes his application gives ordinary people a way to push back. He grew up in various cities thanks to his father's work, attended high school in Mbombela (Nelspruit), worked in retail in his early twenties, and obtained an IT certificate from college. He created the application independently, often working until two or three in the morning, calling himself the sole creator of this project into which much enthusiasm has been invested. He thanks his girlfriend for her support.
