A new study has just been released, with the aim to take yet another look at the billions that are being generated by those who are perpetrating Telecom Fraud. Industry analyst TransNexus (News - Alert) released the study that found, in part that the premium-rate number services that allow these fraud artists to get rather lucrative payouts are coming from stolen mobile phones and hacked VoIP systems. One particular scam, know as the International Revenue Sharing Fund (IRSF) has picked up speed in recent years with an increase in VoIP systems around the world.

In order to truly get a feel for just how massive this particular fraud ring is, TransNexus gathered data from 121 premium-rate number providers in more than 25 countries. This kind of fraud usually comes from premium rate numbers and takes place most often in developing countries, according to data that was collected. The disturbing trend the study found is that the providers who offer the premium rate numbers tend to be housed in well-developed countries.

The survey found that the U.K. is now home to 26 percent of all of these premium-rate number providers. When all is said and done in regards to this particular study, one thing is abundantly clear. The atmosphere that allows criminals to piggyback themselves onto a mobile phone or VoIP system and then receive money for premium rate numbers is only getting bigger the further we go into the 21st century. The market for legitimate premium rate number providers is also getting quite hot and heavy and the more companies that get into this business, the more active targets for those carrying out the fraud.

It doesn’t appear the true and legitimate business is going to be going anywhere anytime soon, so providers need to be spending more money keeping the criminals out. So far, that hasn’t happened.