# Block Outbound International Calls

If you don't want any extension placing calls to another country, Cloud Voice can enforce that at the system level. There are two ways to hold back international traffic: tighten the dial patterns on your outbound routes (useful when you need to allow some extensions and block others), or switch on country code dialing protection (a single switch that covers everyone). This page walks through the protection setting, which blocks international dialing for the whole system in one step.

International destinations are a common target for toll fraud: if someone gets hold of an extension's credentials, they can run up expensive calls to premium overseas numbers. If your account never needs to dial abroad, this setting removes that exposure with one change.

## How the protection works

Country code dialing protection watches for the international dialing code (the prefix a caller dials to reach a number outside their own country). When you enable the feature and leave the allowed list empty, any call that starts with that prefix is rejected before it leaves your system.

:::note
The international dialing code varies by region. Callers in the United States and Canada dial `011`, while much of Europe and Asia uses `00`. Enter the prefix your users actually dial, not a generic one.
:::

## Turn on dialing protection

1. Sign in to the management portal and go to **Security > Security Settings > Allowed Country Codes**.
2. Enable **Enable Allowed Country/Region Code Dialing Protection**.
3. In the **International Dialing Code** field, enter the prefix used for international calls in your country.
4. Click ![Save](/images/pbx/save%20(2).png), then **Apply**.

:::caution
The block takes effect for every extension the moment you click **Apply**, with no per-user exceptions. Confirm the **International Dialing Code** matches the prefix your users really dial: if it does not, the protection will not catch the calls you meant to block.
:::

## Result

No extension on the phone system can place an international call.

:::tip
To permit international calls to a specific set of countries while still blocking the rest, add those country codes to the allowed list on this same page instead of leaving it empty.
:::