Canadian mobile identity joint venture EnStream has partnered with Proximus Global to introduce a new API aimed at helping enterprises prevent recycled number fraud and strengthen digital trust for Canadian users. The service uses real-time intelligence from Canada’s national mobile network operators to inform relying parties when a phone number has been reassigned. This allows them to flag accounts and trigger additional verification before sending one-time passcodes or sensitive communications.
Recycled number fraud occurs when a deactivated number is reassigned to a new subscriber while businesses continue to treat it as belonging to the previous owner. This can allow new holders of the number to intercept SMS one-time passwords or receive account notifications. EnStream cites data indicating that nearly one in five Canadians reported losing money to fraud in the past year, with an average loss of just over 2,000 Canadian dollars. The joint venture identifies recycled number risk as a contributing factor to these losses.
The new API exposes reassignment status and timing so that customer-facing platforms can adjust their flows. A bank could require step-up identity proofing if a high-risk transaction is initiated from a number that has recently been recycled. Similarly, a digital service could block sending credentials until the user re-verifies control of the channel. EnStream provides underlying data from Bell Mobility, Rogers Communications, and Telus Communications. Proximus Global standardizes and delivers the information to customers across sectors including infrastructure and identity services, fintech, commerce, and communications.
EnStream positions the move as part of a broader effort to make fraud prevention seamless and reliable. Proximus Global frames it as an example of how telcos, service providers, and enterprises can collaborate on shared fraud problems. For digital identity and authentication programs that depend heavily on phone numbers, the launch highlights the risks of using mobile numbers as primary identifiers. It also underscores the opportunity to mitigate those risks using network-level signals.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
