We are very pleased to share new guidance published today by Comms Council UK, developed with the Home Office and Ofcom, and with input from ICO to help telecoms providers lawfully share data to tackle fraud.
With fraud accounting for 45% of reported UK crime, spanning multiple channels and networks, and telecoms networks sitting at the centre of this challenge, tackling it effectively requires collaboration. However, telecoms providers have not always been clear or confident about how they can lawfully share data on suspected fraudsters using their networks.
Aimed at providers of all sizes, this clear, practical guidance explains what data sharing is lawful, what frameworks support it, and how to get started. Inside, you will find practical checklists to work through before sharing, guidance on identifying and contacting the right organisations in the fraud prevention chain, solutions to the most common barriers, a step-by-step guide to report fraudulent activity and real-world examples of what cross-sector collaboration achieves in practice.
It is the result of a series of CCUK workshops hosted at the Home Office, bringing together government, regulators, law enforcement, industry and trade bodies and a key problem identified: data sharing cannot be contingent on already having the right relationships, visibility of the fraud chain and existing data-sharing schemes, or legal certainty.
Improving cross-sector data sharing on telecoms fraud is a key commitment in the government's Fraud Strategy 2026–2029 and the Telecommunications Fraud Charter, which CCUK signed in November 2025.
Particular thanks to the Home Office, Ofcom and the ICO for their support and close collaboration in developing this, and to everyone who contributed input and case studies.
Both documents are available here.