CRTC should release data on fraud calls: PIAC

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has asked the CRTC to publicly disclose the information it receives in monthly reports from wireless telecom service providers about the fraudulent practice known as "SIM swapping." In a letter sent to the CRTC Tuesday, PIAC requests that the regulator make available any reports it has received from telecom companies since it started mandating monthly reports on the fraud in December. Specifically, PIAC asked for the public disclosure of reports from BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Bragg Communications Inc.'s Eastlink, Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., Quebecor Inc., Telus Corp., Shaw Communications Inc., Xplornet Communications Inc., and TBayTel Inc. SIM swapping involves a fraudster convincing a wireless provider to transfer the victim’s phone number to a new SIM card in the fraudster’s possession, which can then subsequently be used to access personal, banking, or government accounts. Because all of the service providers have emphasized the confidentiality of the data they give to the CRTC on the practice, PIAC argues in that "consumers and the public looking at these responses have no idea at all, whatever, of the size and scope of the problem of SIM-swap fraud occurring in Canada." PIAC goes on to assert that the regulator should reject the telecom companies’ claims of confidentiality, writing that "the problem of SIM-swap fraud is not a matter on which companies compete. To our knowledge, based on news reports of victims, all WSPs are susceptible to SIM-swap fraud." Rather, PIAC continues, "the sheer scale of the problem likely is embarrassing to the industry." If the CRTC publicly released data on the frequency of SIM swapping fraud across various companies, "consumers can both pressure their to do better and can gauge the level of risk to their own accounts and take precautionary measures accordingly." "If one or two WSPs clearly are experiencing higher levels of fraud, the spotlight on this inconsistency should lead these companies to expend more resources on solving the SIM-swap fraud problem rather than treating it as a cost of doing business," PIAC wrote. Last January, the CRTC asked telecom companies to provide information on SIM swapping and to formulate plans to combat the practice. In September, the CRTC paused pause on anti-swapping measures, after Quebecor and Shaw reported issues with a process created by members of the Canadian Wireless Technology Association’s wireless number portability (WNP) council. The House of Commons industry committee has been studying the threat of fraud and scam calls since before the COVID-19 pandemic began. In May, it heard from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre that criminals were cashing in on the pandemic. In November, the committee released a report on the practice, calling for the government to work on improving the availability and accessibility of data on fraud calls, and on improving the information available to Canadians about the issue. — Reporting by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca and editing by Tim Forster at tforster@thewirereport.ca

CRTC should release data on fraud calls: PIAC

News | February 9, 2021

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

CRTC should release data on fraud calls: PIAC

News | February 9, 2021

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Telus’ arguments for incumbent access to wholesale regime not supported by competitors

Bell won’t participate in subsidized broadband projects if wholesale access for Big Three continues, signs agreement with CNOC

Rogers’ purchase of Bell’s MLSE stake not being challenged by Competition Bureau ‘at this time’

Telecom industry players look to Senate for greater copper theft prevention

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us