Insights

The Trust Framework: Practices, Standards and Procedures for a Fraud-Free Telecom

Nov 06, 2024

We’re at an inflection point in the telecom industry. 

Impersonation scams are becoming more prevalent and advanced, with fraudsters increasingly leveraging spoofed caller IDs to disguise their identities. Posing as government agencies, tech support services or financial institutions, bad actors deceive consumers into sharing sensitive information or authorizing illicit transactions. Despite advancements like AI-driven fraud detection and caller authentication standards, consumers are losing billions of dollars in losses every year. 

The industry needs a robust solution — and now, Somos is excited to bring one to the table: the Trust Framework. This initiative proposes a comprehensive, industry-wide set of standards and practices aimed at verifying the authenticity of a caller to curtail fraud and reinforce trust in telecommunications. By anchoring trust in the very essence of a phone call —the phone number — the framework can empower both businesses and individuals to trust that the caller is who they claim to be. 

Underpinned by STIR/SHAKEN authentication protocols, the Trust Framework ensures that every call made carries a digital signature, certifying its authenticity across telecom networks. By enforcing practices like identity verification, a rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) process, and Zero Trust principles, the framework assures that fraudulent activities are stopped.  

Beyond the technical mechanics, the framework promotes a culture of transparency and collaboration. This includes enabling public declarations of vetted identifiers, empowering both telecom providers and regulatory bodies to participate in an ecosystem that validates and secures the identities behind each communication. This in turn will protect privacy, enable user consent and establish a more secure representation of callers through verified presentations. 

If the Trust Framework is going to succeed, we need a coordinated effort that rallies all telecom industry players — from service providers to regulators and technology partners. This cooperative approach will build a resilient, trustworthy future for telecommunications, where consumers are safeguarded and communication lines are reliable. 

For an in-depth look at how the Trust Framework aims to reshape the telecom landscape, check out the full whitepaper! Discover the framework’s guiding principles, technical foundations, and powerful vision for a fraud-free communications ecosystem.