On September 16, telecom industry body, Comms Council UK (CCUK) published new guidance in London clarifying how communications providers can lawfully share customer data to fight telecommunications fraud, to resolve legal uncertainty industry groups say has held back cooperation against scammers.
Fraud can move across several networks, while each provider sees only part of the activity. Clearer rules could help connect warning signs before scams spread.
The trade association representing Britain’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), IP telephony, and advanced communications sectors, the CCUK, said the guidance was developed jointly with the Home Office and telecoms regulator Ofcom, with input from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The guidance is indented to give telecom providers of all sizes clarity on what data-sharing with industry partners, law enforcement, and telco fraud prevention organizations is legally permitted under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Data Use and Access Act 2025.
Network Data Becomes Part of Defense
Fraud now accounts for 45% of all reported crimes in the UK, according to the association, which said telecoms networks are frequently exploited to distribution scam calls and text messages.
The group said modern fraud schemes typically span multiple communications network channels, and hundreds of providers, leaving individual companies without oversight needed to disrupt fraud chains on their own to guarantee telecom fraud prevention.
The challenge is because fraud in telecom industry networks can cross voice, SMS and several providers, leaving one company without a complete view of the scam. CCUK cites a case where cross-industry network analysis identified an SMS blaster used to send fraudulent texts at scale.
It shows how fraud detection in telecom industry systems can turn technical signals into evidence.
The investigation led to arrest, conviction, and sentencing. In another case, telecom data was shared with banks to identify business victims, showing how telco fraud prevention can support action beyond communications networks.
“Only by working in close collaboration between industry, government and law enforcement will we make it harder for fraudsters to operate and better protect the public,” said Lord Hanson, Fraud Minister at the Home Office.
For operators, tackling telecommunications fraud is therefore no longer only about blocking one suspicious number. It increasingly requires a shared view of activity moving between networks.
Clearer Rules for Lawful Sharing
The guidance includes a checklist and decision flow to support telecom fraud prevention, especially for smaller providers.
“For too long, telecoms providers haven’t had the confidence to appropriately share information to disrupt fraud,” said Tracey Wright, Chair of Comms Council UK.
The framework is designed to make fraud in telecom industry investigations more coordinated while keeping data protection requirements in place.
“Data protection law is not a barrier to sharing information to prevent fraud. In fact, it provides a clear and lawful framework for doing so responsibly,” said Andy Curry, Head of Investigations at the ICO.
That assurance could strengthen Telco fraud prevention by allowing companies to compare suspicious activity instead of analyzing each network in isolation.
The guidance also addresses different types of frauds in telecom, where criminals may combine calls, text messages, and other channels to hide the wider pattern.
Ofcom’s Strategy and Delivery Director, Amy Jordan, believes effective data sharing is an important step in helping protect customers against criminals seeking telco fraud.
The document supports the government’s Fraud Strategy 2026-2029 and Telecommunications Fraud Charter, both of which place data sharing at the center of efforts against telecommunications fraud.
CCUK is encouraging providers to review the guidance with legal and compliance teams. Wider use could make telecommunications fraud easier to trace across fragmented networks.
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