The Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) has released its 2015 Global Fraud Survey. The survey is a collection of data from communications fraud analysts worldwide. Results from the survey estimate that fraud losses for the communications industry total $38.1 billion USD each year. Fraud losses from traffic pumping, also known as International Revenue Sharing Fraud (IRSF), is the biggest threat. Over $14.5 billion USD are lost to IRSF and traffic pumping to international premium rate numbers.

Cloud calls are transmitted via high-speed internet connections, rather than over a traditional land-line phone service. These types of calls are generally traveling through many layers of cloud service providers and/or wholesalers, which can create more accessibility, least cost routing scenarios, and sometimes subsequently – fraud.

Fraud over cloud services can affect any type of organization who uses or sells cloud services. It occurs when the ‘attacker’ attempts to take advantage of certain systems and vulnerabilities within the cloud network by hacking into it and making international calls, and having no intent at paying for the accrued charges. Without proper fraud prevention monitoring and prevention strategies in place, providers or customers using cloud services may be unaware of the fraudulent activity.