Page 71 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

1,055% Surge in Unauthorized SIM Swaps as Mobile and Telecoms Sector Hit

Hard by Rising Fraud

Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention
service, has raised the alarm on SIM swap
fraud, with cases surging by 1,055% in 2024.
The stark warning comes as part of the
organisation’s annual Fraudscape report,
which paints a grim picture of escalating
threats across the mobile and telecoms
sectors. Nearly 3,000 cases of unauthorised
SIM swaps – where criminals hijack a
victim’s mobile number by porting it to a new
SIM without their consent – were filed to
the National Fraud Database (NFD) in 2024,
impacting multiple telecoms providers.
Once in control of a victim’s number,
criminals intercept calls and messages,
including crucial two-factor authentication
codes, enabling further fraudulent activity
to take place, such as account takeovers
for apps and other forms of identity theft.
The latest Fraudscape report reveals that concerning unauthorised mobile upgrades enable our members across all sectors
in 2024, a record-breaking 421,000-plus rose by 96%. Older consumers remain a – including telecoms, banking, retail and
cases were filed to the NFD – the UK’s target. Those aged 61-and-over now make insurance – to share crucial information,
largest and most comprehensive database up 29% of all account takeover cases, with helping prevent over £2.1 billion in losses
of fraud risk data and intelligence. The filings about this demographic rising by last year alone. Together, we can outpace
telecoms sector has emerged as a primary 90% year-on-year. Simon Miller, Director of the criminals.” Cifas urges consumers
target, with identity fraud linked to mobile Policy, Strategy, and Communications at to be vigilant; monitor mobile accounts
products up 87%, reflecting a surge of Cifas, said: “Our latest figures underscore for unexpected changes and look out for
more than 16,000 cases. In addition, the urgent need for collaboration and the notifications recommending security PINs
facility takeover fraud – where criminals sharing of data and intelligence across or passwords from their telco providers.
take control of an individual’s accounts – sectors to tackle fraud. “In the mobile and Businesses, meanwhile, should adopt
soared by 76%, with telecoms and online telecoms sector, criminals are exploiting stronger identity verification methods and
retail the most affected sectors. Notably, vulnerabilities in the system to assume continue sharing threat intelligence across
48% of all account takeover cases in 2024 control of people’s mobile identities – with industries.
involved mobile phone accounts. Filings devastating consequences. “At Cifas, we

BSNL Gets Fresh Spectrum from DoT for Its Upcoming 5G Service

India’s Department of Telecommunications deployed almost 84,000 4G base station to cover the telco’s capex in the near term
(DoT) has reportedly awarded 5G spectrum sites (out of a planned 100,000) across via a INR60 billion funding package issued
worth INR610 billion to state-owned telco the country as of March 8, of which just in February. The government will provide
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to ready over 74,500 are live. Sekhar added that more funding once 5G deployments are
the telco for its planned launch of 5G all of BSNL’s 4G network will provide the underway, the report said. BSNL also plans
services sometime this year. ETTelecom foundation for its no standalone 5G launch, to launch standalone 5G in Delhi across
reported that DoT allocated spectrum in as all base stations are 5G-upgradable, 1,876 sites using the 900-MHz and 3300-
the 700-MH, 3300-MHz and 26-GHz bands the report said. BSNL has launched 4G MHz bands. That project has run into
to BSNL for 5G usage. No timeline has services in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and problems – partly because BSNL is required
yet been released regarding an official Chennai as of the end of 2024, as well as to use only indigenous gear to build the
launch date, but BSNL has said it will start most state capitals. The telco aims to offer network, and partly because vendors are
with Delhi before expanding the service 4G in all circles by June 2025. Government unhappy with the telco’s revenue share
to other select cities. Minister of state for officials told ETTelecom that funding won’t model, under which BSNL would get at
communications Pemmasani Chandra be a problem for BSNL’s 5G rollout, as the least 70% share of revenue, with select
Sekhar told Parliament that BSNL has government has provided enough funding vendors getting whatever is left.
71 MAY 2025