In the news

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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
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Interview with CBS: Avoiding Holiday Text Scams

CBS Chattanooga’s Nick Hill reports on how fraudsters are taking advantage of the holiday shopping season through texting scams. iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, shares expert information on how to protect against these scammers. CBS explains the concept of smishing: text messages that are designed to install spyware or steal other personal data. Cray advises viewers to beware of text messages with links and a sense of urgency. Hill describes the common situations these hackers will try to present, including verifying gift cards, falsely claiming delivery delays, or claiming they need more information to complete a delivery.
Nov 14, 2022
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Interview with CBS: TECH BYTE: Don’t Fall for Political Texting Scams

CBS Chattanooga’s TECH BYTE reports on how fraudsters are taking advantage of the election season through texting scams. iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, shares expert information on how to protect against these scammers. Cray explains how Americans lost $86 million last election cycle from texting scams, and this year could be even worse. Money isn’t the only thing scammers are after, viewers are also warned to watch out for scammers spreading misinformation.
Nov 4, 2022
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Interview with CBS: Scammers cracking down, jumping into your phone with political texts as elections inch closer

Steve Sbraccia of CBS Raleigh reports on how scammers are taking advantage of the election season to steal personal information. iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, shares expert information on how to protect against these scammers. Cray advises viewers to be wary of texts with a sense of urgency and sent from 10-digit numbers. Real candidates and campaigns can undergo a vetting process to obtain a 5/6-digit number (a short code), making these numbers more trustworthy for voters.
Oct 28, 2022
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Tips for protecting yourself against political texting fraud

Terrence Lee of FOX Chicago reports on the increasing amount of text scams sent out as election season gets underway. In a live interview, iconectiv’s Senior Vice President, George Cray, provides expert tips on identifying scam text messages sent from fraudsters posing as candidates or campaigns. Cray warns viewers to watch out for requests for personal data, embedded links and messages with a sense of urgency. Cray also explains that text messages from 5/6-digit numbers (short codes) are more reputable due to the vetting process candidates/campaigns undergo to obtain the code.
Oct 24, 2022

Press Releases

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

press release

Expanding the Role of Toll-Free Voice Lines While Ensuring Consumer Trust

iconectiv will join the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) for a webinar, Numbers Matter: Building Brand and Keeping Customer Trust in Omni-channel, that will explore the growing role of toll-free numbers for customer engagement. This will include a closer look at how toll-free numbers can be used to improve revenue and relationships. With trust paramount, brands are rediscovering the power of toll-free numbers for calls and texts that benefit from the underlying confidence customers have in the toll-free channel.
May 4, 2020
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Live Webinar Co-hosted by iconectiv and VanillaPlus Focuses on Establishing Consumer Trust with RCS for Business Messaging

VanillaPlus and iconectiv will host a free webinar, How Telcos Can Rebuild Trust In Communications with Rich Communication Services, on April 22, 2020, 3 p.m. UK | 10 a.m. ET. The webinar offers an in-depth conversation with industry visionaries who are building the next wave of B2C communications on a trusted foundation that will ultimately help protect businesses, promote customer-brand relationships and better engage consumers.
Apr 14, 2020
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Will Efforts to Block Illegal Robocalls Negatively Impact Legitimate Businesses?

With illegal robocalls representing nearly half of all unwanted calls in 2019, the new Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN) is helping to rebuild consumer confidence and trust in the U.S. by mitigating the impact of the criminals. However, as international calls will also pass through the SHAKEN service, overseas service providers need to be fully aware of the process to ensure their calls are properly authenticated and verified, and not inadvertently blocked due to lack of trust in the authentication information or lack of authentication altogether.
Mar 27, 2020
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¿Tendrán un impacto negativo sobre los negocios los esfuerzos por bloquear las llamadas automáticas ilegales?

Como las llamadas automáticas ilegales representan casi la mitad de las llamadas indeseadas en 2019, el nuevo manejo basado en firmas de información confirmada mediante toKENs (SHAKEN) está ayudando a recuperar la confianza del consumidor y confiar en que EE.UU. está mitigando el impacto de los delincuentes. Sin embargo, como las llamadas internacionales también pasaran por el servicio SHAKEN, los proveedores de servicios extranjeros deberán comprender muy bien el proceso para garantizar que sus llamadas sean correctamente autenticadas y verificadas, y no inadvertidamente bloqueadas por desconfiar en la información de autenticación o falta de autenticación.
Mar 27, 2020
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Removing the Risk That Could Impede Adoption of Rich Business Messaging

Rich Business Messaging, powered by Rich Communication Services (RCS), is poised to be the new wave of messaging technology offering enhanced features like read receipts, video, group chat and paying for services. In order for it to live up to its potential, service providers and businesses must provide consumers with the information they need to verify the authenticity of Rich Business Messaging chatbots and the conversations they represent.
Mar 24, 2020
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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