Fighting Fraud: Telco Operators launch the era of “Trust Signals”

As cyberattacks are surging, telecom operators have emerged as a new line of defense in digital security. By standardizing access to their network data through CAMARA APIs, they are now equipping businesses with tools that enhance both security and user experience.

The start of 2026 brought a stark warning from both the CNIL and Surfshark: data breaches and phishing attempts are on the rise. In a threat environment increasingly shaped by industrial-scale attacks and AI-driven automation, mobile phone numbers have become both a prime target for fraudsters and a cornerstone of online security.

For businesses, the challenge is clear: stop fraud without adding friction to the customer journey. That tension is summed up by Alexandre Zermati, Product Manager for Identity and Anti-Fraud APIs at Orange LiveNet: “Every added layer of security in the customer journey can create friction. Operator APIs make it possible to deliver trust signals without asking the user to do more.”

That is exactly where telecom operators are now positioning themselves, propelled by the international CAMARA open-source project and the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. The alliance is turning mobile network capabilities into plug-and-play security components for enterprise use.

A new anti-fraud toolkit: KYC and Silent Authentication

Three solutions are currently reshaping the fraud prevention landscape:

KYC Match (formerly Match ID): This API checks whether the information entered by a user matches the data held by their mobile operator. It has proven to be a powerful tool against identity fraud, helping one major banking player cut fraud by nearly 50%.

Number Verification: This technology could spell the end of the traditional one-time password (OTP) sent via SMS, replacing it with a form of “silent” authentication that is faster and less exposed to social engineering attacks. As Alexandre Zermati notes, “SMS OTP was the standard for a long time, but it is no longer always suited to today’s demands for seamlessness and security.”

SIM Swap: This API detects whether the SIM card associated with a phone number has recently been replaced — a valuable signal that can be integrated into fraud risk scoring.

Early adopters report strong results

Initial feedback from the market suggests these technologies are delivering. Buy now, pay later (BNPL) specialist Pledg, for instance, has embraced the Number Verification API, moving a quarter of its mobile payments to the system in just a few months. Robin Devals, Head of Operations at Pledg, highlights the fintech perspective: “Pledg provides merchants with simple, seamless digital financing solutions that improve conversion while delivering an innovative shopping experience.” The remaining challenge, however, lies in carefully managing the business model given the cost of network-based queries.

Meanwhile, software provider DQE has positioned itself as an early pioneer by connecting multiple operators through a single access point. For Jean-Pierre Lim, Product Director at DQE, data quality and security go hand in hand: “Customer data quality is also a security issue. By combining reliable data, operator signals and an API portfolio approach, it becomes possible to fight fraud more effectively while improving the user journey.” According to DQE, the impact is immediate: lower abandonment rates and a smoother customer experience.

Watch the webinar replay

Learn more by watching the replay of our webinar on Trust Signals