Scammers online: how Russia and the world are tackling the phone fraud epidemic
According to the Global Anti Scam Alliance, in 2025, 57% of people worldwide faced attempted fraud, with 23% losing money. In 2024, financial damage was estimated at $1.026 trillion, about 1.05% of global GDP. In Russia, the problem is even more pronounced: 87% of Russians experienced phone fraud either personally or through relatives, and for 60%, suspicious calls and SMS became a weekly occurrence.
On the network level, call verification technology is developing rapidly, making large-scale number spoofing more difficult. Mobile operators are enhancing security with artificial intelligence. For example, MTS has introduced an automatic call-blocking feature within its “Defender” service to filter out unverified calls.
These innovations are transforming the industry, enabling a systemic reduction in successful fraud attacks. Protection is being strengthened through cooperation between the government, operators, and banks.
MTS is one of Russia's largest telecom operators, providing a broad range of mobile communication, internet, and digital services. The company actively invests in technologies to protect users from fraud.
Overall, the combination of technological innovation and regulatory measures is expected to significantly reduce phone fraud levels in the coming years.
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