TPG Telecom launches AI powered CallShield to protect customers from scams

The ongoing fight against scammers continues with TPG Telecom announcing the launch of  an AI powered spam shield to protect customers from scams.  

The  spam shield is based on CallShield from Mavenir, and will protect customers across all of TPG Telecom’s portfolio including Vodafone, TPG, iiNet and felix customers. 

The filter protection uses Machine Learning to detect the scam calls, adapting to changing network conditions and utilising algorithms to check subscriber behaviours to block attempted illicit activity in real time. 

The approach has been working, with TPG Telecom reporting a 280% increase in the number of these fraudulent calls blocked before even being connected to customers. 

Scam calls are increasing, with TPG Telecom releasing statistics that CallShield blocked 19 million fraudulent calls, and more than 213 million fraudulent text messages in the first six months of this year,  equating to more than 103,000 calls per day. That’s more than triple the 4.9 million calls blocked in the first half of 2023. 

TPG Telecom chief technology officer Giovanni Chiarelli said

“No one likes getting scam or spam calls, and falling victim to one is even worse. Our new technology is here to protect millions of Australians by stopping fraudsters in their tracks.

Blocking scammers can feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, but with our innovative solutions, we’re able to stop millions of unwanted calls from bothering our customers.”