France Leads the Charge in Combating Fraud with New Telco APIs
France’s major mobile operators – Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange, and SFR – join forces to introduce innovative tools designed to protect online businesses and consumers from a surge in digital fraud. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, marks the first deployment of its kind worldwide.
Protecting Consumers仰 Data in a Digital World
In an increasingly interconnected world, online transactions and digital services have become commonplace. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, France has witnessed a 37% surge in online transactions, with a staggering 2.35 billion euros changing hands in 2023 alone. Notably, 77% of these transactions were conducted via mobile devices, highlighting the growing reliance on mobile technology for financial activities.
This shift towards digital has unfortunately coincided with a parallel rise in online fraud attempts. A worrying 80% of French companies report experiencing online fraud threats, with 45% observing a steep increase in such incidents over the last year. Furthermore, digital identity theft cases have surged by 40% in the past four years, according to the French Interior Ministry, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
KYC Match and SIM Swap: Powerful New Tools Against Fraud
To combat these rising threats, the four leading operators are introducing two new application programmable interfaces (APIs): KYC Match and SIM Swap, both developed and deployed based on the new CAMARA standard that aims to unify specifications for all mobile operators.
“The goal is to provide app developers and companies with the tools they need to combat online fraud and protect the digital identities of their customers,” explains [Quote from a relevant spokesperson].
KYC Match allows online businesses to verify the identity of new customers with ease and accuracy. This API streamlines the know-your-customer process, enhancing user experience while minimizing the risk of fraudulent registrations.
SIM Swap, on the other hand, tackles the growing threat of SIM swapping attacks. By integrating this API, businesses can add an extra layer of protection by verifying the legitimacy of SIM card changes, effectively safeguarding user accounts from unauthorized access.
Early Adoption and Testament to Effectiveness
The APIs have already undergone rigorous testing and are being utilized by several French financial institutions, including BforBank (the online branch of Credit Agricole) and Fortuneo (a subsidiary of Credit Mutuel Arkéa). These institutions have integrated KYC Match to proactively verify new customer identities in collaboration with DQE Software, demonstrating the API’s real-world applicability and efficacy.
More than twenty companies in France have already embraced these Telco APIs, incorporating them into their existing systems to prevent fraud during account takeover attempts and verify customer identities throughout transactions and onboarding processes.
A Global Initiative for a Secure Digital Future
The launch of these APIs marks an important milestone in the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. This global effort aims to simplify the development of digital products that function seamlessly across diverse devices and networks, transcending geographical limitations.
Since its inception, the GSMA Open Gateway initiative has garnered significant momentum, with 67 mobile network groups representing a vast network of 278 networks, covering three-quarters of all mobile connections worldwide. Additionally, 26 sales partners have joined this collaborative movement, highlighting the industry’s commitment to a secure and interconnected digital future.
What is the significance of France’s four leading mobile operators collaborating on this initiative?
## Interview: France Tackles Online Fraud with Innovative APIs
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about a major development in the fight against online fraud, with France taking the lead on a groundbreaking initiative. Joining us to discuss this is [Guest Name], [Guest Title]. Thanks for being with us today.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is happening in France?
**Guest:** France’s four leading mobile operators – Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange and SFR – have joined forces to launch two new APIs, KYC Match and SIM Swap. This is significant because it’s the first deployment of its kind globally, allowing businesses to directly leverage mobile network data to combat online fraud and identity theft. [[1](https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/france-mno-tackle-rising-fraud/)]
**Host:** What prompted this move?
**Guest:** There’s been a significant surge in online transactions in France since the pandemic, reaching a whopping 2.35 billion euros in 2023 alone. Unfortunately, this increase has also coincided with a rise in online fraud attempts. It’s become a serious problem for both businesses and consumers.
**Host:** Can you tell us more about these new APIs? How do they actually work?
**Guest:** KYC Match enables businesses to verify the identity of new customers quickly and securely. Imagine signing up for a new online service. Instead of going through lengthy verification processes, KYC Match can instantly confirm your identity using your mobile network data. This streamlines the onboarding process, reduces friction for customers, and minimizes the risk of fraudulent registrations.
**Host:** And SIM Swap?
**Guest:** SIM Swap is designed to prevent fraudsters from hijacking SIM cards, a tactic commonly used to gain unauthorized access to accounts. This API allows businesses to easily verify that a customer is indeed the rightful owner of the SIM card associated with their account, adding an extra layer of protection against SIM swapping attacks.
**Host:** This sounds like a real game-changer. What’s the bigger picture here?
**Guest:** This initiative sets a precedent for other countries to follow. By collaborating and sharing best practices, mobile operators can collectively create a safer online environment for everyone. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is instrumental in facilitating this kind of global cooperation.
**Host:** Absolutely. [Guest Name], thank you so much for providing these insights. This is definitely a development worth watching.
**Guest:** My pleasure.
