A South African Tech Innovator's Bold Response to Spam Calls
A South African tech enthusiast, who was once disturbed by a spam call at 6 am, has developed an app that allows users to report and block spammers. The app’s name is exactly what many people are thinking.
FokOffMense, created by 30-year-old IT specialist Mathew Riddle, launched at the beginning of July. "As South Africans, we're all frustrated with spam callers," he said. "Every time they call, one just wants to say fokof."
Fokof is a vulgar Afrikaans expression meaning "f--- off," a blunt way of telling someone to go away. The app functions similarly to Truecaller, the popular Swedish call-screening app that identifies and blocks spam numbers using reports from its user community. However, Riddle's homegrown version takes it a step further by allowing users to file formal requests under the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) through the app and escalate matters to the Information Regulator when companies do not respond.
The idea was born after too many rude awakenings. "I was once called awake at 6 am by a spam caller. I then did some research." Whenever a user receives a spam call or email, they can report and block it on the app. Other users then get a notification with the report and can block the number too, even if the spammer has not contacted them yet.
Ten days after launch, the app has 50 users and has logged 700 reports. "With the feedback that I got, people have received responses from companies," Riddle said. The system has safeguards against abuse. "If you go block your ex-girlfriend or debt collection agency, it won't automatically block or list them. You would need to be reported more than once, close to 10 times. You can choose who to block. We have disclaimers explaining all of this."
The app carries no advertising, including on the free version, with a premium version at R99 and a family version covering up to five people at R279. Riddle is not worried about the name offending anyone. "It is not done to offend. I have done a survey and people said the name was quite funny," he said. "I don't think people will have a problem with it."
He is entering a fight that official numbers show South Africa is losing. Truecaller's latest Global Insights Report ranked South Africa among the 10 countries most affected by spam calls in the world, with nearly 30% of calls from unknown numbers identified as spam. The problem is accelerating, with 8.72 billion spam calls identified in the country in the first quarter of this year alone, along with 1.92 billion spam messages.
Popia prohibits direct marketing through unsolicited electronic communication without consent, and the Information Regulator has confirmed in a guidance note that telephone calls count as electronic communication, closing a loophole telemarketers relied on for years. Companies that flout the rules face enforcement notices, and failure to comply can mean a fine of up to R10m or imprisonment.
Despite the tougher rules, the calls keep coming, and Riddle believes his app gives ordinary people a way to hit back. He grew up in various cities as his father travelled for work, attended high school in Mbombela (Nelspruit), worked in retail in his early 20s and obtained an IT certificate at a college.
He built the app alone, often working until two or three in the morning. "I am the only mastermind behind this. A lot of passion went into building this." He credits his girlfriend for keeping him going. "My girlfriend is my rock. She is supporting me."
The couple do not have children, but their pugs keep the house busy, and if the app takes off, a lot more South Africans might finally get to say fokof without ever picking up the phone.
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