The UK telecom industry has embarked on an ambitious initiative to tackle scam calls, establishing a new Telecommunications Fraud Charter. This dynamic effort unites prominent players such as BT/EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone Three, Tesco Mobile, TalkTalk, and Sky alongside Comms Council UK. They aim to eradicate scams and safeguard consumers.
This commitment precedes the UK Government’s Fraud Strategy and introduces measures to obstruct fraudulent calls and assist victims swiftly. With 96% of mobile users wary of unfamiliar numbers, fraudsters often disguise their regional origins.
Telecom firms have pledged to deploy advanced call tracing technology. This advancement enables pinpointing and blocking of malicious calls. A proposed Traceback system could trace the origins of fraudulent calls in real-time, a collaborative method among telecommunications, banking, and technology sectors.
The charter also emphasizes public awareness campaigns and improved victim support. The Comms Council UK will develop guidelines to enhance fraud detection and response. Increased data sharing with law enforcement aims to identify scammers effectively. Timely victim support is promised within two weeks.
“This initiative brings together government and industry to deliver change for consumers and businesses. The overall message around collaborative data sharing, advanced technology solutions, and unified public messaging will help disrupt fraudulent activity at scale,” said Tracey Wright, Chair of Comms Council UK.
Lord Hanson, UK’s Minister for Fraud, stated: “This government is committed to tackling fraud. In a major upgrade of our mobile network, call spoofing will be eliminated within a year – stripping away the tools scammers use to cheat people out of their hard-earned cash. We’re stepping up our defenses to protect victims and make sure the UK is the hardest place in the world for scammers to operate.”
Recent regulatory updates by Ofcom further support this initiative. New measures target mobile scammers efficiently.
The Telecom Fraud Charter stands as a robust blueprint for curbing scam calls by fostering cooperation across various sectors. It promises a safer communication environment for customers throughout the UK.
