Insights

CFCA Fall Educational 2025: Uniting the Industry Against Fraud and for Trust

Oct 17, 2025

This fall, Somos had the privilege of sponsoring and hosting the CFCA Fall Educational 2025, where leaders across telecom, enterprise and technology gathered to confront one of the most pressing challenges in communications: how to protect identity and trust in a world where phone numbers remain central and increasingly vulnerable.

During this 3-day event, Somos had the opportunity to showcase how our solutions are leading the industry in securing trusted communications. From number identity to fraud prevention, these sessions showcased how carriers, enterprises and consumers can stay connected with confidence.

The Future of Phone Numbers: Building Trust in a World of Evolving Fraud Threats

Moderated by Kevin Rupy of Wiley Rein and featuring expert perspectives from Somos’ Sushil Inaganti, Susan Tamida, Daniyal Khan and Kyle Belcher, the panel explored the reality that, despite a growing array of digital channels, phone numbers continue to serve as universal identifiers.

Setting the tone for the event, Sushil kicked things off with a powerful reminder: phone numbers remain the backbone of trusted communications. They're still how consumers reach businesses, verify identities and engage across platforms, but that trust is under strain.

Fraudsters are hijacking the phone number ecosystem to launch impersonation attacks, spoof trusted brands and exploit vulnerabilities in both enterprises and consumers. And AI is only accelerating that threat, fueling deepfakes, automating social engineering and undermining yesterday’s prevention models.

Susan emphasized that fraud schemes like smishing, impersonation and fake invoice scams are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader “kill-chain” strategy. Businesses must proactively monitor their number inventories, authenticate outbound calls and invest in technologies that provide verifiable proof of right-to-use and call origin.

From the consumer lens, Daniyal underscored how fraud is eroding not just financial trust but emotional and psychological safety, with consumers increasingly wary of legitimate calls. The answer lies in a multi-layered, identity-centric approach that incorporates network signals, behavioral analytics and real-time verification to assess risk and tailor authentication.

Kyle added that AI is compounding both risk and opportunity. While fraudsters exploit generative tools to scale attacks and impersonate voices, AI also enables defenders to detect threats earlier, prioritize high-risk cases and automate response workflows that free up human teams to focus on more complex investigations.

As the discussion came to a close, one theme resonated clearly: safeguarding trust in communications requires a united front. From policy and technology to education and accountability, the fight against fraud demands that carriers, enterprises and regulators move together. At Somos, we’re proud to help lead that charge — empowering the industry with the tools, data and partnerships needed to protect identity and restore confidence in every connection.

Fireside Spotlight: Exposing the Cost of SIM Swap Fraud

Bill LaRuffa and Sri Ramachandran of Somos led a powerful fireside chat on the rise of SIM swap fraud, a major driver of account takeovers. They unpacked how these attacks, fueled by insider collusion and social engineering, enable fraudsters to hijack digital identities by gaining access to OTPs, bank accounts and recovery tools. Far from being just a telecom issue, SIM swaps pose a serious threat to identity security. Sri emphasized the importance of real-time, carrier-grade signals, like SIM swap APIs, as essential tools for detecting and stopping fraud before it escalates. The conversation highlighted a deeper structural issue that, because carriers typically don’t absorb the financial losses, there is little incentive for proactive prevention, reinforcing the urgent need for stronger regulation and coordinated, industry-wide action.

As SIM swap and account takeover continue to escalate, the takeaway is clear: identity protection can no longer be reactive. Every SIM, every number, represents a gateway to digital trust — and defending it requires real-time visibility and industry collaboration. The fight against account takeover starts with treating the phone number as the digital identity it truly is — and ensuring the systems behind it are as secure as the services they enable.

Joel Bernstein: Honored for a Legacy of Trust

At the closing of the event, CFCA announced its 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees. Joining an esteemed group of individuals, Somos’ own Joel Bernstein, Vice President and Head of US Public Policy and Government Relations, was honored for his commitment to fostering collaboration, strengthening telecom fraud prevention and advancing responsible number administration. His leadership is not only foundational to Somos’ mission, but it has also helped shape the industry’s shared efforts to build a more trustworthy communications ecosystem.

Giving Back: Supporting CASA of Middlesex County

Beyond the presentations, panel discussions and award ceremony, the CFCA Fall Educational 2025 also served as a reminder of the importance of community. This year, Somos and CFCA attendees joined together to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County, an organization that empowers volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

As part of our donation drive, participants contributed books, art supplies, games, puzzles, fidgets and more — simple items that help bring comfort, creativity and joy to children in foster care. Whether we’re fighting fraud or fostering community, our shared purpose is to protect and uplift others.

The CFCA Fall Educational was more than just an event. It was a reminder that trust in communications is built, protected and renewed through collaboration. As fraud tactics grow more sophisticated, so too must our solutions to stay ahead of them.

To learn more about the CFCA, please visit www.cfca.org.

To learn more about how Somos can help you protect your telecom assets, please email us at connect@somos.com.