GLF publishes its annual report on the state of fraud in the international telecoms industry
Fraudulent traffic in telecoms is evolving faster than ever, and carriers are responding with increased vigilance and investment
The Global Leaders’ Forum (GLF), a membership organisation of over 140 members that provides a single voice to the broader digital ecosystem, has released its annual report on the status of fraud in the international telecoms industry.
The Fraud Report 2025 provides a comprehensive view of the latest trends in telecom fraud, highlighting the challenges carriers face and the strategies they are using to protect networks and maintain customer trust.
Key Findings:
- 69% of carriers rank fraudulent traffic as a top priority — up from 64% in 2024.
- Messaging fraud remains a serious risk, with 35% of operators reporting an increase, though this reflects a 20 percentage-point improvement compared with last year.
- 77% of carriers plan to increase investments in fraud detection for voice and messaging in the coming year.
- Collaboration is rising, with 47% of respondents reporting strong peer commitment, up from 30% in 2024.
- Unwanted traffic continues to challenge operators, with spam, robo, and phishing calls reported by over 53% of carriers.
The report compiles findings from Sparkle and other world's leading telecoms operators, including Vodafone, Telefónica, e&, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
“The 2025 GLF Fraud Report charts industry progress while highlighting persistent threats. Collaboration, vigilance, and proactive measures are essential to secure a trusted telecom ecosystem. Operators must continue investing in fraud prevention and leveraging innovative tools to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated schemes.”
- Eloy Rodriguez, Chief Wholesale Officer, Telefonica Global Solutions & Trust Pillar Lead, GLF