More than eight in 10 (82%) UK adults have been affected by potential scam texts or calls, representing an estimated 44.6 million adults in the UK (Ofcom) Combatting fraud requires a multifaceted approach, with Comms Council UK (CCUK), the trade association for telecoms companies that provide services to business and residential customers in the UK, today announcing its collaboration with National Trading Standards Scams Team on fraud detection and prevention.
The initiative enables CCUK’s members to share information on fraudulent behaviour more easily both within the CCUK membership and with relevant industry stakeholders. Members are invited to share reports of potential misuse with the National Trading Standards Scams Team, which will allow them to take action against such activity.
“Criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and inventive in finding ways to scam or defraud individuals and businesses via calls, messaging and texts. I believe that our experience in managing such scenarios for other industries, combined with the wealth of information held within CCUK’s membership, will stand us in good stead to greatly reduce fraudulent activity in the telecoms sector. We are delighted with this partnership,” said Louise Baxter MBE, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team.
By participating in this innovative initiative, telecoms companies can not only save victims from substantial financial losses, but help rebuild trust in telephone calls. The scheme sits alongside existing efforts taking place within Government, regulators, law enforcement bodies, and other sectors like banking.
“We are delighted to be working with National Trading Standards Scams Team on this initiative, which is both incredibly timely and necessary. There is no single solution to resolve the great challenge which fraud presents to our industry, but it is essential that we take a proactive approach. The telecoms sector has a key role to play in implementing greater reporting and analysis of fraud, which will provide a solid foundation to promptly and effectively reduce criminal behaviour executed through telephone calls,” said Tracey Wright, Chair of CCUK.
The initiative is open to all CCUK members, who can discover how to report proven or potential criminal behaviour to the National Trading Standards Scams Team through the CCUK member wiki. Non-members are invited to learn more about becoming a CCUK member on our website or by contacting team@commscouncil.uk.
For both members and non-members, CCUK will host its inaugural Fraud Summit on 5th March 2025 at One Birdcage Walk in London, bringing together representatives from sectors such as telecoms and banking, as well as regulators, law enforcement bodies, and civil servants to share insights on how to tackle fraud effectively.