Agenda
Arrive, collect your badge, and connect with early attendees.
- Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
- Dr Marco Lafrentz, Vice President of Business and Market Development – netnumber
- Martin Kahl, Specialist Policy and Development Expertise and Stakeholder Management Unit – Europol EC3
Spoofing, including Caller ID spoofing, is a major threat to the European Union’s digital infrastructure and citizen security. These attacks lead to financial fraud and social engineering scams, causing significant economic and societal damage. The Anti-Spoofing Initiative, led by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), aims to combat this by focusing on three key areas: harmonizing technical standards, fostering cross-border collaboration, and encouraging regulatory convergence. As part of this effort, the initiative involves several key actions, such as surveying existing anti-spoofing tools, developing a framework for harmonized standards, initiating pilot projects for cross-border traceback, and engaging with key stakeholders.
- Nick Rossman, Programme Director – MEF
This presentation will delve into evolving consumer perceptions of data security and online safety. It will highlight increasing confidence in safeguards and personal ability to stay safe online, while also addressing the persistent concern that technology advances may make personal data less secure. The agenda will also cover the continued prevalence of unsolicited messages and calls, the growing adoption of protective measures by consumers, and the high importance consumers place on regulation concerning big tech data power, harmful content, misleading advertising, and AI applications.
- Anthony Sani, Director – Fraud Intelligence Limited
The panel will explore how devices and telephony are now a gateway to digital fraud, as they are the new front door connecting telecom abuse with wider financial crime. A key focus will be on the need for a single global intelligence layer — a shared, real-time source of truth for IPs, IMEIs, numbers, and scam signals that breaks down existing silos. The discussion will also cover why blockchain matters, explaining how it provides decentralized trust, data integrity, and transparency without relying on a single authority. The core idea is to transform raw data into actionable intelligence, where each fraud type leaves a fingerprint. By sharing signals, we can turn this collective data into powerful, actionable protection. The panel will address how this approach provides value across the entire fraud spectrum, from combating established, “known-known” threats to identifying emerging signals (“known-unknowns”) and revealing the blind spots (“unknowns”) that collective intelligence can uncover.
- Nick Rossman, Programme Director – MEF
- Katia Gonzalez, Head of Corporate Public Policy – Proximus Global
- Katja Kmet Vrčko, International Affairs Advisor – AKOS/ BEREC
- Anuj Agarwal, Chairman – Centre for Research on Cyber Crime and Cyber Law
- Innocenza Genna, Legal Advisor – Genna Cabinet
- Sham Careem, Head of Global Anti-Fraud Solutions – MEF
Discover how MEF’s Anti-Fraud in Messaging Framework is uniting the messaging ecosystem to implement binding self-regulated practices, protecting consumers and brands from fraud in SMS and RCS. Learn how the framework is safeguarding trusted messaging channels, and gain insight into early results from a groundbreaking trial designed to prevent fraudsters from exploiting the P2P SMS channel.
- Garry Lilburn, Operations Director – Cyber Defence Alliance
- Rebecca Hinchliffe, Cyber Crime Analyst – Barclays Bank
This session will explore the current efforts being undertaken to tackle the threat actors, examining how they have evolved and the rise of Crime-as-a-Service. It will also delve into how the fraud kill chain can be utilized to reduce threats and will highlight various law enforcement operations in this area.
- Sham Careem, Head of Global Anti-Fraud Solutions – MEF
- Rebecca Hinchliffe, Cyber Crime Analyst – Barclays Bank
- Gary Lillburn, Operations Director – Cyber Defence Alliance
- Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
This panel brings together the experts behind the latest efforts to combat digital fraud. We will explore how industry frameworks, such as the MEF’s Anti-Fraud in Messaging initiative, are establishing a united front to protect consumers and brands. The discussion will also go inside the “fraud factory,” examining the evolution of threats like Crime-as-a-Service and how the fraud kill chain can be leveraged to disrupt malicious operations and secure the messaging ecosystem. Join us for a strategic discussion on safeguarding trusted digital channels.
- Nick Rossman, Programme Director – MEF
- Eli Katz, CEO & Founder – X-Connect
- Tim Atkinson, Business Development – Google
- Olly Brough, Director – AuthID
- Will Pinkney, Principal, Networks and Communications Group – Ofcom
- Chi Onwurah, Member of Parliament and Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee
- Sham Careem, Advisor – MEF
- Stefan Heller, Vice President Business Development & Strategic Partnerships – TCR
- John Bruner, President and CEO – Aegis Mobile
- Robert Jones, Chief Commercial Officer – Brand Assure
This panel will dissect the critical challenges in establishing trust and security for business-to-consumer messaging in the RCS ecosystem. We’ll explore the complex world of Know Your Business (KYB) and brand ID verification, examining the pain points for brands seeking to launch campaigns, the operational bottlenecks faced by mobile operators, and the integration hurdles for CPaaS providers. The discussion will cover the intricacies of vetting ultimate beneficial ownership, the need for standardized global protocols, and the balance between robust security measures and a seamless, fast onboarding experience. Join us to uncover practical solutions for building a more secure and efficient RCS messaging future.
- Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
- Miriam Percan, Telecom Business Director, Infobip
- Leon Makaj, Routing Expert – Infobip
- Gülnihal Akartepe, VP – Risk, Regulation and Compliance – Tpay Mobile
The presentation outlines the evolution of Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) from its origins in providing mobile services like ringtones to becoming a tool for real-world financial transactions. The document highlights the benefits of DCB, such as convenience, versatility, high conversion rates, and enhanced security. It also addresses challenges like regulatory issues, fraud prevention, and consumer awareness. A case study is used to demonstrate how an AI-driven solution can effectively combat fraud, leading to a significant decrease in fraudulent transactions and user complaints. The presentation advocates for central bank-led regulation, citing Türkiye as a successful model where such oversight transformed DCB into a trusted financial solution that promotes financial inclusion.
- Ievgen Martsin, VP Product technology, Network API& future proof journeys – Proximus Global
After decades of operating behind closed doors, major telecom providers are opening their networks. In doing so, they’re launching a new era in digital communications set to reshape how everyone, everywhere interacts in the digital world. For consumers, the promise is undeniable: smoother, more secure, and hyper-personalized experiences with brands they engage with daily. Organizations, meanwhile, stand to gain even more as open networks unlock powerful tools to deepen customer relationships, streamline operations, and harness data. This session will highlight the Network API revolution as a crucial pathway to surviving—and thriving—in this new hyper-digital age. It will provide a historical look back on the origins of where this revolution began and how it has evolved with stronger standardization and a broader scope of APIs for new types of use cases. It will highlight the new API-driven innovations in fraud protection, including real-time fraud prevention using location and enhanced digital identity verification and authentication, and how these innovations are allowing enterprises to ensure trust and safety are baked into enhanced customer experiences anywhere and at anytime.
- Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
- Raman Mistry GSMA, Channel Partner Engagement Lead
- Clare Messenger, JT Global, Head of Mobile Intelligence
- Glyn Povah, Global Product Development, Telefonica
- Matthew Hornsey, VP of Product and Purchasing, TMT ID
- Ievgen Martsin, VP Product technology, Network API& future proof journeys – Proximus Global
- Andrew Bud CBE FREng FIET, Founder & CEO – iProov
The landscape of digital authentication is rapidly shifting. We are witnessing a growing trend of regulators intervening in SMS-based Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), particularly within financial services, urging and even obliging industries to adopt more secure, alternative channels. Simultaneously, leading hyperscalers are proactively moving away from SMS 2FA, recognizing its inherent vulnerabilities and taking the initiative to implement stronger authentication methods.
This critical panel will explore how Network APIs can serve as a powerful solution to this evolving challenge, offering enhanced security and a more seamless user experience for 2FA. We will delve into the technical capabilities that enable Network APIs to combat messaging fraud effectively, moving beyond the limitations of traditional SMS. The discussion will also tackle the significant hurdles that remain, especially the imperative to bring more operators together to join pivotal initiatives like Open Gateway and CAMARA, ensuring widespread adoption and a truly unified front against fraud. Join us to discover how collaboration and innovation in Network APIs are paving the way for a more secure digital future.
- Sham Careem, Head of Global Anti-Fraud Solutions – MEF
- Lee Suker, Head of Authentication and Number Information – Sinch
- Chris Curd, Director, Mobile Identity – Mitto
- Dr Marco Lafrentz, Vice President of Business and Market Development – netnumber
Don’t miss our essential panel on Artificially Inflated Traffic (AIT), a pervasive and costly threat eroding trust and profitability across the telecom ecosystem. AIT significantly impacts enterprises and brands, leading to substantial revenue losses and compromised customer experiences. Join industry leaders as we uncover the true scale of AIT and dissect the pros and cons of various cutting-edge technical solutions designed to combat this challenge. This session will also spark vital discussion on the urgent need for enhanced collaboration across the entire telecom industry to collectively secure the future of legitimate traffic and protect brand integrity. Discover how to safeguard your business and thrive in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
- Allister Fraser, Digital Identity & Verification Sales Specialist – London Stock Exchange Group
Join Allister Fraser, Identity Verification Sales Specialist at LSEG, as he explores the evolving fraud landscape in 2025. This session will highlight significant financial threats, including deepfake and synthetic identity fraud, and discuss how LSEG’s Document & Biometric Verification (DBV) solution offers a robust defense. Learn how DBV uses AI to authenticate identities with superior accuracy and speed, enhancing security while streamlining workflows and improving the customer onboarding experience.
