VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

What is VoIP fraud? (4 Common Types of VoIP Scams)

VoIP uses dedicated Internet connections rather than dedicated copper lines to carry voice calls. VoIP adds voice communication to the same data network as other informational media like text, images, video, etc. Several resources have come together to form one system.

VoIP allows customers to provide advanced services while lowering the cost of phone calls. It provides scale, mobility, and flexibility. VoIP phone systems are nevertheless susceptible to a variety of dangers. They may be the target of data-driven assaults, flaws in the system, hacking attempts, and deceptive techniques.

Fraud And VoIP Security Threats

Many security risks affecting other computing technology types also affect VoIP systems. VoIP systems can be compromised by malware, network intrusions, DDoS Cyber – attacks, and sometimes even phishing attempts.

A significant portion of the cyber risks is made up of VoIP fraud. In general, using VoIP services without intending to pay for them is fraud by the user or company. VoIP scams frequently occur with other criminal activities such as identity theft, subscription fraud, hacking, and the use of vulnerable computer systems. Hackers frequently attempt to avoid paying service provider bills, paying them in part, or getting another person to pay what is owed.

While some forms of VoIP fraud may theoretically be acceptable in some nations, they still hurt VoIP service providers. These businesses depend on them or even end consumers. The majority of the time, fraudsters target businesses. It might be a company that sells or uses VoIP services. Most of the time, the targeted organizations are unaware of a breach. However, they will be liable for unlawful phone calls that cost hundreds of dollars.

VoIP Fraud Types

Specific forms of fraud VoIP methods are created for PSTN networks. Others are driven by software for hacking computers. Businesses could neglect to keep the software up-to-date on their VoIP equipment, making them a target for hackers.

Security lapses, phishing attempts, and even social manipulation strategies are the starting points for the most prevalent fraud kinds. Understanding these VoIP frauds will help you establish a robust VoIP fraud protection mechanism in your business.

Fake Call Transfers

Call transfer fraud occurs when someone breaks into something like a VoIP PBX to make free international calling. The hacker typically operates their VoIP service in a different nation. The compromised PBX is used when a user of the fraudulent service places a call to a country outside of their own.

The customer of the fraudulent product cannot be billed by the true owner of the PBX server. Customers can pay the fraudster for services rendered using resources taken from them.

In many instances, hackers can make a sizable profit before being discovered. When the breach is discovered about the toll fraud VoIP, the company’s options are limited to patching the weakness and blocking the entrance. Law enforcement agencies are unable to investigate the situation further.

WANGIRI

 A missed call fraud campaign is Wangari in Japanese2; it means “One (ring) and cut.” The technique is founded on IRSF, spamming, and CLI spoofing.

The fraudster makes massive calls to mobile subscribers (also known as “Target Subscribers”) in a certain nation or to a particular mobile provider (Target Mobile Operator).

The call is dropped after some ring tones, one of the VoIP phone scams. The targeted consumer will receive a missed call with a fake CLI and will not be able to pick up. This CLI is associated with a Premium Rate Service, typically a local number. The targeted customer will typically hear an adult-oriented recording when he phones back this numbeFAS (False Answer Supervision)

When a call hasn’t been established, a member in the traffic flow chain transmits a false signal showing that a call has been established. Calls are billed as completed even when not connected, and the calling party is charged for call setup time (early response, dead air, artificial reply, etc.). Additionally, calls are billed for call duration even when the called party cannot be reached.

Revenue Sharing Plans

Usually, this kind of fraud uses high-priced phone numbers. For some services, calling this kind of number will cost you more. Hackers will set up phony businesses to buy these premium phone numbers. They can fictitiously increase call volume to these numbers to profit from a percentage of the call fee.

How does this happen?

  • The majority of the time, a fraudster will breach a company’s voice network and place unlawful calls towards the premium phone number.
  • They typically do this during the weekend, so it takes several hours’ worth of phone conversations before the breach is noticed.
  • The unwary victim will be saddled with a hefty charge, and the hacker will profit from the fraudulent international calls.

Conclusion

VoIP fraud is the unauthorized usage of paid telecommunications services charged to a party that isn’t expecting it, whether that party is the provider or the client. Simply put, this could cost your company—typically your whole livelihood—a windfall from which it might be challenging to recover. You or your client will cover the cost, and the hacker will keep the money. This article explains various VoIP frauds and ways to protect yourself from them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to prevent VoIP fraud?

VoIP fraud can be prevented using a multilayered protection strategy. Real-time call record analysis can also spot odd trends, sudden traffic spikes, an abnormally high number of missed calls, etc. VoIP fraud has become a major issue for the sector. To secure phone networks, service providers & their customers should cooperate.

Can changing phone numbers prevent me from VoIP fraud?

It is difficult to identify and stop phony VoIP calls. Some service providers ban phone numbers from nations with high incidences of fraud. However, because hackers can switch between many numbers from other nations, such attempts are infrequently effective Aggressive call blocking can interfere with valid calls as well.

What is the major type of VoIP fraud transaction type?

The majority of VoIP fraudulent transactions involve breaching various PBX systems. Weak authentication controls are standard in enterprise PBX systems. Employees who reuse passwords across numerous sites vulnerable to attack may not be aware of security practices. Once a hacker has access to even one user account, it is simpler for them to access others. Another concern is that many VoIP services don’t use strong encryption.

Why is VoIP fraud increasing?

VoIP is growing in popularity worldwide, and so are security and fraud concerns. The fact that few businesses are aware of the security environment in which VoIP functions does not help. Many individuals believe that VoIP is less secure than PSTN because of this. They are mistaken, sadly.

What are the common types of VoIP transactions?

Some common VoIP transactions are fake call transfers, false answer supervision, WANGIRI, etc.

With a foundational role at Saas Labs, Anand has been a key player in establishing the Product Management function and spearheading the launch of our Conversation Intelligence solution. His expertise in AI innovation guides both the strategic direction of the products and a team committed to excellence.

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