BEREC External Workshop on Combatting Fraud

Why It Matters

The workshop tackles the rising wave of smishing and vishing scams that threaten EU consumers and telecom networks, fostering coordinated regulatory and technological responses that can curb fraud losses.

Key Takeaways

• Workshop focuses on smishing, vishing and emerging telecom fraud trends
• Panels compare fraud regulations in US, India, Colombia, UK, EU
• Telecom operators showcase latest anti‑fraud technologies and solutions
• BEREC will release a summary report by end‑2026
• Insights will feed a 2027 Best Practices guide with ENISA, Europol

Pulse Analysis

The acceleration of digital services across the European Union has been matched by a surge in online fraud, particularly smishing and vishing attacks that exploit SMS‑based two‑factor authentication. The NIS Cooperation Group’s February 2024 report warned that these scams are eroding consumer confidence and straining telecom operators’ security resources. As the regulator for electronic communications, BEREC is uniquely positioned to coordinate a continent‑wide response, drawing on its mandate to safeguard network resilience and to harmonise market practices among member states.

On 21 May 2026, BEREC will convene an external stakeholder workshop, split into two panels. The first will map regulatory frameworks from the United States, India, Colombia, the United Kingdom and the EU, highlighting divergent approaches to licensing, reporting obligations and penalties. The second panel gives equipment vendors and telecom carriers a stage to demonstrate anti‑fraud tools such as AI‑driven traffic analysis, real‑time number‑verification and biometric authentication. Co‑chaired by representatives from Slovenia’s AKOS and Croatia’s HAKOM, the session builds on ongoing collaboration with ENISA and Europol.

The workshop’s findings will be distilled into a BEREC summary report due by the end of 2026, feeding directly into a prospective 2027 Best Practices handbook. By codifying successful regulatory measures and cutting‑edge technologies, the guidance aims to reduce fraud losses for both consumers and operators, while supporting a level playing field across the single market. For telecom executives, the event offers actionable intelligence and a network of peers, reinforcing the sector’s collective resilience against increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.