International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF)
International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) is one of the most prevalent and damaging types of fraud in the telecommunications industry.
It involves illegally obtaining profits by taking advantage of the way international telephone calls are billed and revenue is shared.
Fraudulent Call Generation: IRSF typically involves generating a large volume of calls to premium-rate international numbers. Fraudsters often collaborate with or operate these premium-rate services, thereby profiting from the call charges.
Exploiting Revenue Sharing Agreements: The fraud capitalizes on the agreements between telecom operators that share revenue from international calls. The fraudsters' share of this revenue comes from the high charges of the premium-rate numbers.
Use of Stolen or Cloned SIM Cards: IRSF often involves using stolen or cloned SIM cards to make the fraudulent calls, thereby avoiding direct payment for these calls.
Wangiri Scam: A common method used in IRSF is the "wangiri" or "one ring and cut" scam, where calls from premium-rate numbers ring once and hang up, prompting the victim to call back and be charged high rates.
International Revenue Share Fraud represents a significant challenge in the telecommunications industry, requiring ongoing vigilance and advanced detection methods to protect against financial losses and maintain the integrity of international calling services.