Unwanted and scam calls in Bulgaria: your rights
You can stop sales calls by objecting to the use of your data, and the company has to stop. Scams are different: you don't argue, you hang up and report them. Below is what Bulgarian law says and where to turn.
Sales calls: what the law requires
- Sales callers must identify themselves. At the start of the call they must say who they are and what the commercial purpose is (Consumer Protection Act).
- Marketing calls need your prior consent. Calls, messages and emails for direct marketing and advertising, made with or without a person, are allowed only with your prior consent, which you can withdraw at any time (Electronic Communications Act, Art. 261(1)). The one exception is a company you have bought from: it may offer you its own similar products, but must stop as soon as you refuse (Art. 261(2) and (4)).
- You can always say no. You can withdraw your consent and object to the use of your data for direct marketing. The company must then stop (GDPR Art. 21).
- Bulgaria has no general "do not call" register for phone numbers. The consumer authority's register covers only companies' email addresses.
How to stop sales calls
- Say clearly during the call, or write to the company: "I object to the processing of my personal data for direct marketing and ask you to delete my phone number."
- Ask where they got your number. You have the right to know (GDPR Arts 14 and 15).
- If the calls continue, complain to the data protection authority (КЗЛД). If they didn't identify themselves, report them to the consumer authority (КЗП). Unwanted calls and messages can also be reported to the communications regulator (КРС).
Debt collectors
A collection agency must also say who it is and on whose behalf it is calling. You can ask for written proof of the debt and of its transfer: a debt transfer takes effect against the debtor once the original creditor has notified them (Obligations and Contracts Act). Harassment, threats and calls to your family or colleagues are not a lawful way to collect. Report them to КЗП, and misuse of personal data to КЗЛД.
If the debt comes from a bank loan that was sold or handed over for collection, the Credit Servicers and Credit Purchasers Act also applies from 20 June 2025 (Art. 17(4)–(5)). Such a firm must hold a licence from the Bulgarian National Bank. It may not call between 20:00 and 7:00, or on weekends and public holidays; it may not contact anyone the debt was not transferred to, or put information about the debt in public places; and it may not use aggressive or misleading practices. The Act does not cover debts to mobile operators, utilities or non-bank lenders. Complaints go to КЗП (Art. 41(4)).
The most common phone scams
From the start of 2024 to the end of September, nearly 100,000 fraudulent calls to telecom subscribers were identified, and since the start of 2023 victims have lost more than BGN 3.5 million (Ministry of Interior, via BTA, 10 October 2024).
| Scheme | What it sounds like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fake bank employee | "There's a suspicious payment on your card; tell me the SMS code." | Hang up. Call the number on the back of your card yourself. |
| "Relative in trouble" | "Your son has had an accident; we need money now." | Hang up and call your relative directly. |
| Fake police officer, tax officer or official | "We're investigating fraud; move your money to a safe account." | Authorities never ask for money or codes by phone. Report it on 112. |
| Investment and crypto | "Guaranteed profit, today only." | Check the firm in the Financial Supervision Commission (КФН) register, which also publishes warnings about unlicensed firms. |
| One ring from abroad ("wangiri") | A missed call from an unknown foreign number. | Don't call back: it may be an expensive number. |
| Parcel or courier | Text: "Your parcel is waiting; pay the fee here." | Don't open the link. Check the parcel in the courier's own app. |
If you already gave data or money
- Call your bank at once to block the card or the transfer.
- Report it on 112 or to the cybercrime unit (ГДБОП) at cybercrime.bg.
- Keep the evidence: the number, the time, the messages, the statement.
Where to report
| Problem | Authority |
|---|---|
| Fraud or attempted fraud | 112 or ГДБОП, cybercrime.bg |
| The seller doesn't identify themselves or applies aggressive pressure | Consumer Protection Commission (КЗП), kzp.bg |
| Calls continue after you objected; they won't say where they got your number | Commission for Personal Data Protection (КЗЛД), cpdp.bg |
| Unwanted calls and messages | Communications Regulation Commission (КРС), crc.bg |
| Investment fraud | Financial Supervision Commission (КФН), fsc.bg |