UK Mobile Networks Launch Tools to Fight Fake Ages and Fraud Online

The UK’s largest mobile operators will help developers of apps and websites to verify users’ ages more easily and prevent fraud. The move follows new safety laws and growing concerns over online scams, which cost Brits more than £11 billion last year.

BT/EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, and CK Hutchison (Three) have announced new services that enable online platforms to quickly and securely verify the identity of their users. Instead of asking people to upload ID documents or fill out lengthy forms, the checks utilize information already verified by mobile operators, such as date of birth or the duration of a phone number’s activity.

The tools come in the form of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces, simple digital connectors developers can plug into apps or websites). The first two now available are:

• Know Your Customer (KYC) Age Verification – confirms if someone is old enough to access restricted content or services.
• KYC Tenure – indicates whether a phone number has been active for a prolonged period, making it more difficult for fraudsters to use brand-new SIM cards for scams.
• Later this year, a third tool called KYC Match will be launched, enabling companies to verify a customer’s details (such as name and postcode) against mobile operator records — without exposing personal data.

These new services are built using CAMARA, a global open-source project that sets common standards for telecom APIs. Think of it as a universal “plug” that works with any mobile operator worldwide. Thanks to CAMARA, a developer in the UK can utilize the same type of age-check or fraud-check API as those in Europe, Asia, or the US, without the need to rebuild everything from scratch.

Why Are Operators Doing This?

Mobile operators already hold trusted customer data because people are required to provide ID when signing up for a phone contract. That makes them well-placed to help verify age and identity online.

The timing is no accident:

• The UK’s new Online Safety Act is officially becoming law. It imposes a duty of care on platforms to prevent the proliferation of illegal content and to protect children from harmful material.
  A key component of the Act is the Protection of Children Codes of Practice, which came into force on 25 July 2025. These codes require platforms hosting user-generated content to implement robust age verification systems and take steps to protect children from harmful content.
  Platforms failing to comply with these duties could face fines of up to £18 million (~$24 million) or 10% of their annual turnover, whichever is higher.
• Fraud is on the rise. In 2024, fraudsters targeted one in seven Britons, resulting in an estimated £11.4 billion (~$15.3 billion) loss due to scams, according to research by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance.

By offering these APIs, operators aim to make online life safer, reduce fraud, and provide users with smoother experiences — such as signing up for an app without having to fill out endless ID forms.

As Henry Calvert, Head of Networks, GSMA, said, they’ve already seen the results UK mobile operators and banks have achieved through Scam Signal — a part of Vodafone’s suite of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which businesses can integrate into their systems. These APIs analyze real-time data from mobile networks to assess the risk of transactions.

Now they go further.

“This continued collaboration among UK operators marks a significant step in protecting consumers, ensuring compliance with new safety laws, and building greater trust in the digital economy,”

– says Johanna Wood, Director of Network APIs, Vodafone Group.

Quick Facts: How Mobile Age & Fraud Checks Work

1. No ID Upload Needed

Instead of scanning a passport or driver’s license, the system uses data your mobile provider already has (like your date of birth when you signed up).

2. Privacy First

Personal details are not shared with websites. The mobile operator only answers “yes” or “no” to age or identity checks.

3. Instant Results

Because the check runs through the mobile network, it’s fast, seamless, and harder for fraudsters to fake.