{"id":1623,"date":"2026-01-26T17:28:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/security\/scams\/?p=1623"},"modified":"2026-02-09T01:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T01:19:14","slug":"the-security-spectrum-addressing-fraud-and-scams-across-the-ecosystem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/security\/scams\/general\/the-security-spectrum-addressing-fraud-and-scams-across-the-ecosystem\/","title":{"rendered":"The Security Spectrum: Addressing Fraud and Scams Across the Ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scams\u00a0fall into a spectrum of differing attack types,\u00a0including those focused on attacking network infrastructure and services, those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to defraud operators\u00a0by abusing services and accounts,\u00a0and those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to\u00a0scam\u00a0mobile users directly. The\u00a0scam\u00a0economy has grown rapidly over the last five years, surpassing the illegal drug trade and costing victims $1 trillion worldwide[1]<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Users of mobile technologies are targeted by a variety of actors \u2013 whether it be low-level fraud via phishing, smishing, or through social engineering against them,\u00a0or call centres. Scams\u00a0and fraud can take many forms, and some of these\u202fexploit mobile devices\u00a0themselves and their supporting service\u00a0as an attack\u202fchannel. These include\u202fattacks such as service fraud (e.g. identity fraud or\u202fmobile money fraud), mobile spam and, increasingly\u202fscams\u202for \u201csocial engineering\u201d fraud, which trick victims into\u202frevealing sensitive information about themselves and\u202fthe services they consume, without realising they\u202fhave compromised their own security. GSMA\u00a0are working closely to test innovative concepts, including Open Verified Calling<\/a>, and implement\u00a0new solutions, like the Scam Signal API<\/a>[2]<\/a>, that directly target\u00a0scams.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The importance of mobile operators taking\u00a0scam\u00a0prevention seriously is clear. For example, Bharti Airtel\u2019s network-based AI-powered Spam detection solution<\/a>[3]<\/a>\u00a0has resulted in a reduction in financial losses for its customers of\u00a0nearly 70%\u00a0–\u00a0a 14.3% drop in overall cybercrime incidents on the Airtel network (also rolled rolled out to Nigeria, Uganda,Tanzani \u00a0and Rwanda). TPG Telecom[4]<\/a> partnered with Apate.ai to pilot a proactive, intelligence-driven defence against scam calls. The program was designed not just to block malicious calls, but to divert them into a secure environment where valuable threat data could be gathered and used to strengthen protection. The collaboration delivered its goal resulting in 280,000+ scam calls\u00a0successfully diverted from the TPG Telecom network and $7.6 million+ in estimated scam losses prevented.\u00a0Anti-scam\u00a0measures are increasingly being provided on-device[5]<\/a>\u00a0as well as within the network. The range of new operating system capabilities is extensive, including the ability to disable 2G connectivity (a route for smishing attacks).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mobile industry is taking comprehensive steps to combat the rising number of\u00a0scams\u00a0that affect individuals and society, and\u00a0to\u00a0improve trust in\u00a0global mobile networking. Additional\u00a0information can also be found in the GSMA scams content hub[<\/a>6]<\/a> that shares a wide range of scam prevention resources to provide the industry guidance, intelligence and education tools and the document Fraud and Scams: Staying Safe in the Mobile World<\/a><\/em>[7]<\/a>.\u00a0Only by uniting and working together can the global mobile industry and the wider ecosystem collectively tackle this issue to safeguard consumers and ensure a secure future for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As scams evolve, so must the industry\u2019s response. At MWC 2026, the GSMA will introduce next-generation anti-scam technologies and intelligence frameworks that look beyond today\u2019s threats to tomorrow\u2019s risks. Visit www.gsma.com\/scams<\/a> to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/a> https:\/\/www.biometricupdate.com\/202510\/scams-overtake-1-trillion-as-ai-supercharges-global-fraud-networks-biocatch<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/gsma-open-gateway\/gsma_study\/vodafone-implements-scam-signal-api-to-combat-fraud\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/security\/scams\/gsma_study\/airtel-spam-detection-solution\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/security\/scams\/gsma_study\/apate-ai-powered-scam-detection-diversion-and-real-time-threat-intelligence\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[5]<\/a> For example, https:\/\/safety.google\/security-privacy\/scams-fraud\/<\/a>,  https:\/\/www.huaweicentral.com\/android-16-will-modify-call-settings-to-safeguard-you-from-scammers\/<\/a>, https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/us\/support\/answer\/ANS10003438\/<\/a> & https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-gb\/guide\/iphone\/iphe4b3f7823\/ios<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/scams\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[7]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/gsma_resources\/fraud-and-scams-staying-safe-in-a-digital-world\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scams\u00a0fall into a spectrum of differing attack types,\u00a0including those focused on attacking network infrastructure and services, those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to defraud operators\u00a0by abusing services and accounts,\u00a0and those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to\u00a0scam\u00a0mobile users directly. The\u00a0scam\u00a0economy has grown rapidly over the last five years, surpassing the illegal drug trade and costing victims $1 trillion worldwide[1].\u00a0 Users of mobile technologies are targeted by a variety […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"algolia_discover_type":[39],"class_list":["post-1623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","algolia_discover_type-article"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Security Spectrum: Addressing Fraud and Scams Across the Ecosystem - Scams<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/security\/scams\/general\/the-security-spectrum-addressing-fraud-and-scams-across-the-ecosystem\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Security Spectrum: Addressing Fraud and Scams Across the Ecosystem\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Scams\u00a0fall into a spectrum of differing attack types,\u00a0including those focused on attacking network infrastructure and services, those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to defraud operators\u00a0by abusing services and accounts,\u00a0and those\u00a0seeking\u00a0to\u00a0scam\u00a0mobile users directly. 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