Addressing the Global Fraud Threat Through Trusted Communications and Collaboration

Fraud and scams are no longer confined to consumer protection. As transnational scam operations grow in scale and sophistication, they increasingly intersect with cross-border crime, illicit finance and broader national and economic security concerns.

At the National Security & Geopolitical Implications of Fraud & Scams Roundtable, a private event co-hosted by the Stimson Center and Meta on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders discussed the growing reach of fraud and the need for greater coordination across sectors and borders.

Representing Somos, Heather Hendrickson, Senior Director of Number Administration Strategy, brought the communications perspective to the conversation, including the role trusted communications can play in helping organizations identify and disrupt fraud.

Why Trusted Communications Matter in the Fight Against Fraud

Fraud rarely stays within one network, platform, industry or country. Bad actors can move across communications channels, digital platforms and financial systems, making cross-sector collaboration increasingly important.

The discussion reinforced several areas that require continued focus: 

• Strengthen trust, identity and accountability across digital and communications ecosystems.
• Improve collaboration among industry, government, policymakers and law enforcement.
• Address fraud as an increasingly cross-border and cross-sector challenge.
• Share insights and intelligence that can help organizations identify and disrupt fraudulent activity.

For Somos, participating in conversations like this helps connect the communications perspective with the broader work happening across technology, financial services and government. That collaboration is essential to building a more coordinated approach to combating fraud and protecting the people and organizations who rely on trusted communications every day.