In the news

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Interview with FOX: Big tax season scam arrives as a text

FOX’s Dana Fowle warns viewers to be vigilant of scammers taking advantage of tax season. Fraudsters will send text messages to victims posing as the IRS. Chris Drake, iconectiv’s SVP Corporate and Business Development, advises viewers to freeze their credit as a preventative measure to protect against identity theft.
Jan 27, 2023
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Interview with NBC: How to Avoid These Tax Season Scams

NBC’s Sasha Jones reports on how to be alert this tax season as IRS scams start to appear. iconectiv’s SVP Corporate and Business Development, Chris Drake, offers his expertise on how to spot these text message or email phishing scams. Drake warns victims to never click links sent by a number claiming to be the IRS, as they are likely infected. Additionally, Drake tells viewers to never send money to these numbers by way of gift card, debit card, wire transfer or money transfer apps, as these methods are largely untraceable and nonrefundable. He tells viewers that threatening texts or voicemails from the IRS are imposters and to report the numbers to the IRS.
Jan 26, 2023
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VanillaPlus Issue 6 2022: Reinvention doesn’t mean the wheel

In this interview, iconectiv’s EVP, Head of Information Solutions Business, Peter Ford, speaks on his vision for the reinvented teleco. Ford shares his thoughts on how CSPs can reinvent themselves and discover new streams of revenue by focusing on their ability to verify identity and drive value from voice. This issue also includes a case study on how iconectiv has created tools to help CSPs navigate complicated regulations surrounding caller ID.
Dec 23, 2022
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Interview with FOX: Scammers taking over bank accounts, stealing funds

FOX Houston’s Heather Sullivan warns viewers of their bank accounts being taken over. In an interview, iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, provides expert insight on how fraudsters are able to steal bank account information and funds. First, scammers will text victims, as if there is an issue with their bank account, prompting victims to click the link and log in. Once the victim enters their information, the fraudster will access the account, change the password and drain the funds. Cray advises viewers to look for texts from short codes, which are more trustworthy, monitor bank accounts for unexpected withdrawals, use strong passwords and an antivirus firewall and to not use WiFi at hotels or restaurants.
Dec 9, 2022
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An Easy-to-Deploy Fraud-Control Handshake for Voice Operators is Here: When Will it Takeoff?

In this interview, Vasily Birulin discusses how the Trusted Communications Superheroes at AB Handshake are protecting the world, one call at a time. The upstart company introduced a new, low cost and easy to implement solution that can have a major industry impact when influential operators and/or regulators adopt it. AB Handshake is a perfect example of iconectiv’s Traffic Fraud Fighters.
Dec 5, 2022
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Interview with ABC: Here's how thieves may use your phone to steal from you

ABC Austin’s Erica Proffer cautions viewers of fraudsters that are taking advantage of the holiday shopping season using text scams. In an interview, iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, provides expert information on why scammers are heading towards texts. Cray explains that text messages are more likely to be opened and engaged with than an email scam. Some common text scams this season include information on gift cards or shipping delays. iconectiv advises viewers to be wary of texts with a sense of urgency, requests for personal information or sent from a standard 10-digit phone number. Cray explains that large companies will often use short codes. These are more trustworthy due to the vetting and monitoring process to ensure they are not being exploited or used for scams.
Nov 23, 2022
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Interview with NBC: Tips to avoid scams this holiday season

NBC Austin’s Sam Stark warns viewers of scams to be aware of going into the holiday shopping season. In an interview, Senior Vice President at iconectiv, George Cray, recommends that viewers look to short codes, as opposed to 10-digit phone numbers, as a sign of legitimacy. Companies must undergo a vetting process to obtain a short code, and in the event the company violates the terms, they must surrender the code. Cray also advises viewers that texts with a sense of urgency or a link are likely scams.
Nov 22, 2022

Press Releases

Media Contact:
Sharon Oddy
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
+1 732 699-5130
soddy@iconectiv.com

press release

As Caller ID Spoofing and Illegal Robocalls Skyrocket, Regulators, Service Providers Can Restore Trust in Caller ID

As a trusted partner in the global communications ecosystem, iconectiv is helping to address this growing, global problem with the launch of TruReach Certify. TruReach Certify is the foundation that helps ensure only legitimate and trusted entities can participate in the STIR/SHAKEN Caller ID ecosystem. It helps service providers authenticate caller IDs from law-abiding subscribers and businesses so consumers can trust caller ID information.
Feb 19, 2020
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Strategizing to Mitigate the Misuse of Telecom Networks

Shaping the future of trusted communications and a debate about upcoming technologies and trends await visitors at ITEXPO 2020, which takes place February 11-14 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Experts from iconectiv will be taking the stage, focusing on strategies for the reduction of robo-driven spam calling and the best ways to maximize the potential of VoIP. Spam calls with spoofed caller IDs have reached unprecedented levels in the U.S.—to the point where many people simply refuse to answer their phones. These calls are easily the biggest segment of consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the number continues to climb, with billions of robocalls reported every month. Helping to restore trust in communications is a key priority for the industry as a whole—as well as a critical focus for iconectiv.
Feb 6, 2020
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Ensuring Accurate Routing of Calls for Hard of Hearing, those Requiring Speech Communication Assistance

More than 44 million U.S. adults currently have hearing loss and the amount is increasing faster than the population growth rate. As the new provider of the Telecommunications Relay Services Numbering Directory for Internet-based TRS (iTRS) in the U.S., iconectiv is helping to ensure that people with hearing and speech impairments can continue to rely on landline and mobile phones to communicate.
Dec 9, 2019
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Consumers pick up the phone when they have trusted information about the businesses calling them

Currently, over 75% of calls are left unanswered when the call comes from an unidentified or unfamiliar number. This is due to the spike in illegal robocalls, which reached 85 billion globally in 2018 – a 325% jump from 2017. The new ATIS-SIP Forum Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN) framework will help mitigate illegal robocalls so that consumers can once again trust the calling number displayed on their caller ID.
Dec 4, 2019
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Answering the Call: Industry to Share Expertise at SIPNOC 2019

With the industry firmly focused on radically reducing illegal robocalls, experts will gather at SIPNOC 2019 on December 3 to further address this critical issue. With 76% of all unidentified phone calls left unanswered, consumers and enterprises are looking to service providers to ensure that legitimate businesses are getting their calls answered by consumers. As policy administrator for the Calling Number Verification Service and a provider of trusted communications solutions, iconectiv has key speakers at the event including Gary Richenaker, Principal Solutions Architect, and Mary Barnes, Senior Advisor, Industry Solutions.
Nov 19, 2019
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Illegal robocalls, NFV implementation and telecom fraud take center stage for iconectiv at MWC Los Angeles

While future 5G service plans and deployment updates can be expected to capture headlines at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Los Angeles (October 22-24), iconectiv, a trusted, neutral provider of trusted communications platforms and solutions, – will be drawing attention back to some of the key challenges facing service providers and their customers today.
Oct 17, 2019
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The promise and peril of network virtualization

Service providers want the technological flexibility, business agility and savings that Network Function Virtualization (NFV) promises, but they’re frustrated by its implementation complexity and cost and the fact that it requires additional work on top of all their other projects and initiatives.
Oct 16, 2019