As we move deeper into the digital age, the landscape of fraud, phishing, and scams is evolving, especially within mobile environments. To better keep pace with the growing threats, M3AAWG has updated its Mobile strategy.

According to recent data, mobile devices accounted for 64% of internet traffic in 2024¹, highlighting their critical role in our online interactions. With users spending an average of over four hours daily on their mobile devices² , it’s no surprise that scams targeting these platforms are surging. 

Along with mobile being an abuse vector in general, mobile devices and services are at the forefront of scams. Recent reports indicate that phone calls and text messages are becoming the primary channels for scams and fraud. 

The FTC’s Sentinel report reveals a significant uptick in these forms of abuse, while Crowdstrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report shows that this issue is not just local but a global concern. As the world has become increasingly mobile-focused, the types of attacks are becoming more sophisticated. 

With the expansion of mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and streaming devices, the range of potential abuse vectors has broadened. Furthermore, the amount of different mobile applications, ranging from social networks to banking and dating apps, creates new opportunities for scams and fraud. 

The Three Focus Areas

M3AAWG has an opportunity to establish comprehensive best practices and encourage collaboration among industry players to enhance the security of mobile communications and services against the growth of fraud. The three  areas where impact can be made are: 

• Mobile Communications: This includes various forms of communication via mobile devices—SMS, MMS, RCS, voice calls, and video conferencing apps. The primary threats here are scams, phishing, malware distribution, and intrusive marketing messages.
•  Mobile Devices: This subarea focuses on mobile operating systems (iOS, Android) and the actual devices from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The risks include malware, system vulnerabilities, and potential device hijacking. 
•  Mobile Apps and Services: This encompasses a broad spectrum of applications that can be used to facilitate scams or become targets themselves (i.e., social media, banking apps, and gaming platforms).

There are five opportunities where M3AAWG can add value to the current threat landscape:

1. Equip the Industry with Best Practices: Currently, the protection levels within the industry are inconsistent. By developing standardized best practices, M3AAWG can help equip businesses to combat fraud more effectively. 
2. Enable Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: Scammers often exploit multiple platforms using similar techniques. Providing connection and establishing more data-sharing among companies can help identify and combat these threats more proactively. 
3. Offer a Safe Forum for Discussion: M3AAWG provides a trusted forum environment to safely discuss problems and solutions, along with a collection of a broad spectrum of experts across the online industry. 
4. Standardize Solutions: The need for standardized solutions is more pressing than ever. M3AAWG can lead efforts to update and improve standards across the mobile ecosystem.
5. Educate Policymakers: M3AAWG is committed to equip regulators by providing technical guidance and education on important regulatory matters impacting mobile. 

Looking ahead, M3AAWG is committed to integrating mobile priorities into our existing strategies. With a focus on leveraging subject matter expertise and advisors, we are poised to make a significant impact in combating scams and fraud targeting our mobile landscape. For more information check out our M3AAWG Strategies Page.

Get Involved

Please stay tuned to this blog and follow M3AAWG on Facebook and LinkedIn for information about attending our upcoming Engagement Series, which will feature M3AAWG leadership sharing more updates on our strategic direction as we work to stay ahead of emerging threats.

M3AAWG members interested in joining our Mobile Tech committee can learn more here. Not a M3AAWG member? Learn more about joining M3AAWG here.

¹ Badalyan, Albert. "Mobile Vs. Desktop Traffic Share & Trends." DigitalSilk, December 13, 2024. https://www.digitalsilk.com/digital-trends/mobile-vs-desktop-traffic-share/.

² Duarte, Fabio. "Time Spent Using Smartphones (2025 Statistics)." Exploding Topics, April 24, 2025. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/smartphone-usage-stats.