At the recent Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) Summit in San Francisco, stakeholders from across the anti-scam ecosystem came together to address one of the fastest-growing threats facing consumers and businesses worldwide and how to better protect them from increasingly sophisticated criminal activity.
Like previous GASA summits worldwide, the event showed that preserving digital trust is a shared responsibility and that only a truly collaborative approach can deliver lasting results. Two themes stood out: the growing recognition of the telecommunications industry’s role in scam prevention and innovation.
A stronger voice for telecommunications
The telecommunications industry’s contribution to scam prevention was more visible than ever.
Mobile operators participated in two main-stage sessions and led a dedicated industry panel focused on how telecom networks are helping protect consumers. There was broad recognition that operators play a unique role in the fight against scams. Through network-level measures that are largely invisible to consumers, operators are already blocking vast volumes of fraudulent calls and messages before they reach potential victims. At the same time, they are investing in innovative consumer-facing solutions designed to help people identify and avoid scam attempts.
The summit also provided an important opportunity to explain what operators can and cannot do.
Unlike internet platforms, mobile operators do not have visibility into communications on encrypted messaging applications, social media platforms, email services or dating applications. Nor can they access the content of communications travelling across their networks. However, they can identify many of the signals associated with suspicious activity. Network intelligence enables operators to detect unusual calling patterns, high-volume messaging activity, suspicious infrastructure, abnormal roaming behaviour and other indicators commonly linked to fraud.
These network signals provide valuable early-warning indicators, but they are only part of the solution. A recurring theme throughout the summit was the importance of information sharing: how can we enable more effective sharing of risk information across sectors and across borders?
There was broad recognition that this is one of the most important challenges facing the anti-scam ecosystem today. Telecommunications providers, banks, technology platforms, governments and law enforcement agencies each hold pieces of the puzzle, but criminals continue to exploit the gaps between them. Closing those gaps through responsible, secure and scalable information sharing could be one of the most effective ways to disrupt scams before consumers are harmed.
The challenge, of course, is doing so while respecting privacy, data protection, and the confidentiality of communications. Finding the right balance between these important principles and the need for effective scam prevention will be critical in the years ahead.
Innovation and AI-powered protection
Innovation was naturally the major theme at the summit, and it successfully highlighted how new technologies can strengthen consumer protection and help stay ahead of rapidly evolving scam threats. The message from operators was clear: the industry is not standing still. Across markets, telecom providers are investing in trusted communications solutions, network-based safeguards and AI-powered capabilities designed to make it increasingly difficult for scammers to reach and deceive consumers.
Discussions during the telecom industry breakout session focused on exciting emerging tools and solutions. Participants explored how network APIs can securely share trusted network signals with banks, helping identify high-risk transactions and potential scam activity in real time. Attention was also given to trusted communications initiatives such as Open Verifiable Communications (OVC), which seek to verify organisational identity, brand rights and number rights across communication channels. By providing greater transparency about who is contacting consumers, these solutions can help reduce impersonation fraud and rebuild confidence in digital communications.
Being in the heart of the global AI ecosystem naturally steered many conversations towards the role of AIin combating scams. It also provided an opportunity to showcase how operators are increasingly integrating AI into network operations. These technologies can analyse communication patterns at scale, helping identify and block suspected scam calls and messages before they ever reach consumers.
At the same time, a consistent message emerged from both operators and technology providers: AI alone is not the answer. The most effective strategies combine AI with network intelligence, caller authentication, threat intelligence sharing and strong cross-sector collaboration. Successful scam prevention requires a layered approach, where multiple safeguards work together to disrupt criminal activity, protect consumers and strengthen trust across the digital ecosystem.
Looking ahead
The telecom industry’s message in San Francisco was clear: mobile operators are already doing far more than many policymakers and stakeholders realise, and innovation across networks is accelerating rapidly. From AI-powered detection and network intelligence to trusted communications and authentication solutions, operators are investing heavily to make digital channels safer and more resilient.
But this momentum cannot be taken for granted. The industry must continue to demonstrate leadership, scale successful initiatives and, importantly, be louder and more visible about the action being taken. Too often, the public debate focuses on the threat rather than the significant safeguards already being deployed across networks. The next challenge is to strengthen the partnerships, trust frameworks and information-sharing mechanisms needed to turn individual efforts into a truly coordinated response. Telecommunications providers, banks, technology platforms, law enforcement agencies and policymakers all have a role to play.