Multi-carrier routing is everywhere in the telecom industry. It helps companies save on costs, improve call quality, and keep their networks reliable. But it also brings some hidden headaches—especially when it comes to tracking call data and catching fraud. For telecom companies, ignoring these challenges can lead to revenue losses and missed fraud activity.

What Exactly is Multi-Carrier Routing?

Multi-carrier routing is when a telecom company sends call traffic through several carriers instead of just one. It’s smart business. You can choose the most cost-effective route for each call, and you have backup options if one carrier has issues. It keeps costs down and quality up.

But there’s a downside. Each carrier has its own way of logging call details. They use different data formats, timestamps, and even different ways to show routing information. When you mix all that together, you get a messy data trail. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle where none of the pieces fit perfectly. These inconsistencies create gaps, and fraudsters know exactly how to exploit them.

Why Data Discrepancies Are a Problem

Imagine a call going through three different carriers. Each one logs the start time, but they all use different clocks or time zones. Now, you have three different timestamps for the same call. It sounds like a small issue, but it’s a big deal. These little differences add up and make it nearly impossible to track the call’s journey accurately.

This confusion gives fraudsters the cover they need. If the data is inconsistent or incomplete, it’s like trying to follow footprints in a sandstorm—they disappear before you can figure out what’s going on. This is how multi-carrier routing creates blind spots that make fraud harder to detect.

How Fraudsters Take Advantage of Blind Spots

Fraudsters are crafty. They look for any weakness in telecom systems, and multi-carrier routing gives them the perfect opportunity. Here are some common fraud schemes that thrive on these data gaps:

• International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF): Fraudsters route calls to international numbers with high termination fees, then take a cut of the revenue. If the data logs don’t line up, it’s hard to track where the call really came from.
• Call Pumping: Fake call traffic is generated to specific numbers to rack up charges. When routed through multiple carriers, the pattern gets scrambled, making it tough to detect.
• SIM Box Fraud: This is where calls are disguised as local traffic using SIM boxes, bypassing international rates. Multi-carrier routing hides the true origin, making this scheme especially sneaky.

Why Inconsistent Logs Make Fraud Hard to Catch

Each carrier logs call details in its own way. One might say the call was “completed,” while another logs it as “failed.” They might even have different timestamps. These inconsistencies create fragmented data that makes it hard to get a full picture of what’s going on.

When you can’t piece together a complete call journey, you end up with:

• Billing Errors: Inconsistent timestamps lead to disputes and lost revenue.
• Missed Fraud Patterns: If you can’t see the full picture, you miss unusual patterns that could be signs of fraud.
• Wasted Resources: Inaccurate logs require manual checks, which waste time and money.

Why Multi-Carrier Data is So Hard to Correlate

It sounds simple—just combine the data from all the carriers, right? Not so fast. Each carrier uses different data formats, timestamps, and methods for logging calls. Even if you manage to merge the data, you often end up with an incomplete or misleading view.

For example:

• One carrier logs a call as “completed,” but another logs it as “dropped.”
• Different timestamps make it impossible to reconstruct the call’s journey.
• Mismatched data fields require complex normalization, and even then, the results are often inaccurate.

These inconsistencies create blind spots in call tracking, which fraudsters can easily exploit.

Real-World Impact: How Blind Spots Cost Telecom Companies

Here’s a real-world scenario. A telecom company was losing revenue because of IRSF. Fraudsters routed calls through several carriers to hide their tracks. The inconsistent logs made it impossible to trace the calls back to the source, allowing the fraud to go undetected for months. The result? Revenue loss and disputes with international partners over termination fees.

This isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a financial one. When fraud goes unnoticed, companies don’t just lose money—they also risk damaging their reputation and customer trust.

How Blind Spots Impact Fraud Detection Systems

Fraud detection systems rely on accurate data to identify unusual patterns. When the data is inconsistent, these systems can’t do their job effectively. Here’s what happens:

• Missed Fraud Incidents: Data gaps allow fraud to slip through undetected, leading to revenue losses.
• False Alarms: Inaccurate data triggers false positives, which require manual investigation and waste resources.

This not only affects your bottom line but also reduces your fraud detection team’s efficiency.

What Telecom Companies Can Do About It

Multi-carrier routing isn’t going away, so telecom companies need to find ways to minimize the blind spots it creates. Here are some practical steps:

1. Centralized Data Management: Use a centralized platform to gather and normalize data from all carriers. This ensures consistency and makes it easier to track call journeys.
2. Real-Time Monitoring: Monitor call traffic in real-time to catch unusual patterns as they happen.
3. Advanced Analytics: Leverage AI-powered analytics to identify fraud patterns that aren’t obvious through traditional methods.
4. Standardize Data Formats: Work with carriers to standardize data formats, making it easier to merge and analyze records.
5. Regular Audits: Regularly audit call records to catch discrepancies early and maintain data integrity.

How 1Route Solves This Problem

1Route simplifies the chaos of multi-carrier routing by centralizing call routing and standardizing data logs. It ensures that no matter how many carriers a call passes through, the records are consistent and accurate. This unified approach makes billing easier and boosts fraud detection by providing a complete view of call activity.

With 1Route, telecom companies can:

• See the full path of every call, regardless of routing complexity.
• Merge call data seamlessly across multiple carriers without data gaps.
• Detect fraud patterns faster and more accurately.

This isn’t just about technology—it’s about protecting revenue and maintaining customer trust.

Staying Ahead of Fraud with Better Visibility

The telecom industry is only getting more complex, with VoIP, 5G, and IoT technologies adding new layers of call traffic. This complexity makes fraud detection even more challenging. Multi-carrier routing isn’t going away, but the blind spots it creates don’t have to be a permanent problem.

By recognizing these risks and investing in smarter fraud detection solutions like 1Route, telecom companies can gain better visibility, protect their revenue, and operate more efficiently. The key is to stay proactive and maintain accurate data tracking, ensuring no call slips through the cracks.

Multi-carrier routing offers many benefits, but it also introduces risks that can’t be ignored. Understanding and addressing these blind spots will keep your network secure and your bottom line protected.