Global Telecom-OTT Collaboration Key to Tackling Scams, Says GSMA: Report

A coordinated knowledge-sharing mechanism between over-the-top (OTT) platforms and telecom operators is critical to effectively combat rising digital scams, according to a senior executive at the GSMA. Such collaboration, spanning global markets including India, would help eliminate gaps that scammers often exploit, while strengthening digital trust ahead of 6G technology adoption.

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Asia-Pacific Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Task Force

“In Asia-Pacific, we have the ‘Asia-Pacific Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Task Force’ where we bring together not just mobile operators but Google, Meta and others because it is not just about single platforms, but about sharing knowledge across platforms to make sure that we are all acting together to combat scams,” Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, told ETTelecom in an interview.

Also Read: Spam, UCC Messages Find Their Way to Users Through RCS and OTT Apps?

Gorman noted that this cross-sectoral approach is aimed at preventing scammers from exploiting loopholes across different geographies and communication services. The urgency of such efforts has grown amid a surge in fraudulent communications across mobile networks and rich communication services (RCS), resulting in significant financial losses for consumers and prompting regulatory intervention.

India steps up crackdown with AI-driven tools

In India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly taken several measures to curb such activities. Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed Parliament in February that over 88 lakh mobile connections linked to suspicious activities had been disconnected using the artificial intelligence-driven ASTR tool. Additionally, the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), launched in May last year, has helped financial institutions prevent fraud amounting to more than Rs 1,400 crore.