Yes. Use of the 0303 prefix is no longer mandatory and has become optional. Anatel states that the change was decided by Ruling No. 201 of August 14, 2025, and its page on the subject was updated on August 28, 2026. This does not mean, however, that telemarketing is now unregulated or that a company may place mass calls without controls.
The most important point for consumers in 2026 is to separate two things: 0303 was a visual way to recognize telemarketing, while call authentication is a technical measure designed to confirm that the displayed number was actually used to originate the call. Since November 15, 2025, Anatel has kept authentication mandatory for high-volume callers that exceed 500,000 calls per month.
What changed with 0303
0303 was created to make active telemarketing calls easier to identify. The original rule tied these calls to a non-geographic code that consumers could recognize. Anatel later made its use optional while strengthening authentication and traceability mechanisms for entities that use telephone networks intensively.
| Situation | What it means in 2026 |
|---|---|
| The call starts with 0303 | The prefix may still be used, but it is no longer mandatory. |
| A sales call does not use 0303 | The absence of the prefix alone does not prove a violation. |
| The caller places more than 500,000 calls per month | It is subject to Anatel's call-authentication requirement. |
| You receive persistent or unwanted calls | You still have ways to identify, block and complain even without 0303. |
For that reason, do not use 0303 as the only criterion for deciding whether a call is legitimate, abusive or fraudulent. The prefix should not be treated as an authenticity seal either.
How to identify who is calling
For numbers registered to legal entities, Anatel recommends the Qual Empresa Me Ligou portal. When the information is available in its database, the tool lets users check the company and Brazilian CNPJ registration associated with a number.
This step can help you document who made the contact and direct a complaint correctly. Even so, a search with no result does not automatically make the call fraudulent, and a registration result does not replace the network authentication mechanisms used to combat caller-ID manipulation.
Practical flow: identify → block → record a protocol → escalate
- Identify and document. Write down the number, date and time of the call and, if the caller identifies themselves, the company or telemarketing provider. Check Qual Empresa Me Ligou when relevant.
- Block it on your device. Current smartphones allow users to block specific numbers and, in many cases, silence or filter unknown callers. Anatel also mentions caller-identification and blocking apps as an option.
- Use Não Me Perturbe when the offer falls within its scope. The Não Me Perturbe platform accepts blocking requests for offers from participating telecommunications providers and for payroll-deductible loan and payroll-deductible credit-card offers from participating financial institutions. The stated implementation period is up to 30 days.
- If the issue may involve improper use of numbering resources or missing authentication, contact your telephone provider. Anatel recommends keeping the service protocol number.
- If it is not resolved, contact the provider's ombudsman. Keep that protocol number as well.
- Escalate to Anatel. If the provider does not respond adequately, file a complaint through Anatel Consumidor. Anatel forwards the case to the carrier, which has 10 calendar days to respond. Consumers can track the case and, under the system's rules, reopen the complaint once.
What Não Me Perturbe blocks — and what it does not
Não Me Perturbe is useful, but it is not a universal blocker for every commercial call. The service is aimed at participating companies in the covered sectors: telecommunications and offers of payroll-deductible financial products. According to the platform's terms and Anatel guidance, the block does not indiscriminately apply to contacts such as data confirmation, fraud prevention, collections and certain communications related to number portability, nor does it cover every company in other industries.
If you have already requested a block and continue to receive offers covered by the platform after the processing period, Não Me Perturbe itself provides a complaint channel for registered users.
Has telemarketing without 0303 become normal?
It has become possible, because the prefix is optional. That is different from saying that any practice is now allowed. Abusive calls, improper use of numbering resources and failure to comply with authentication duties remain subject to Anatel's regulatory action.
For high-volume callers, mandatory authentication has taken on a central role. Anatel says the measure is intended to improve traceability and reduce fraud such as spoofing, in which the number shown to the recipient is manipulated.
When it makes sense to complain to Anatel
Anatel's channel is especially useful when the issue concerns the conduct of your telecommunications carrier and a prior attempt to resolve it has failed. The recommended procedure is to contact the provider first, then its ombudsman, and only then file the complaint with the Agency, bringing the protocol numbers.
It is also important to understand Anatel's role: when the Agency receives a complaint, it forwards it to the carrier and requires a response within the regulatory deadline. Individual complaints, combined with others, also help the regulator identify recurring problems and direct supervision and regulatory measures.
Checklist for an unwanted call
- Do not assume a call is compliant just because 0303 appears.
- Do not assume it is noncompliant solely because 0303 is absent.
- Write down the number, time and company stated by the caller.
- Check Qual Empresa Me Ligou when the number may be linked to a CNPJ.
- Block the number on your device if you do not want further contact.
- Register with Não Me Perturbe for offers covered by the platform.
- Keep protocol numbers when contacting the provider and its ombudsman.
- If necessary, take the case to Anatel Consumidor.
