Detecting and Combating Internet Telephony Fraud

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to understand the characteristics of two forms of internet telephony fraud: remote hacking of telephones that are connected to the internet and the use of stolen credit and debit cards to register as an internet telephone customer. In both types, fraudsters call revenue-sharing numbers, which are often located in overseas countries with high levels of corruption. The fraudsters themselves own or take a share of the revenues, generated when charges are paid, as they must be according to international telephonic agreements. The chapter compares the principal characteristics of fraudulent and non-fraudulent calls in order to further our understanding of how to prevent this crime. The potential for exploiting these offences’ solvability in order to identify and arrest offenders is also considered.