Written by
Molly Weis, VP of Marketing & Communications
Published on
August 23, 2024
Updated on
August 8, 2025
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In a pivotal move for telecom regulation, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken significant action against Lingo Telecom, marking a new era in Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. This decision not only addresses recent fraudulent activities but also expresses clear KYC guidelines that align closely with Numeracle’s Model KYC Policy.
On August 21, 2024, the FCC adopted a consent decree against Lingo Telecom, referencing the lack of established KYC policies as a core issue. The investigation revealed that Lingo falsely attested calls with STIR/SHAKEN A-Level Attestation without proper verification of caller identity and origination. This level of attestation, which should signify a high degree of trust in the certainty of the call’s origination, was inappropriately used to falsely validate and deliver illegally spoofed robocalls.
These robocalls, which targeted voters in the New Hampshire primary election, featured a deepfake AI-generated voice message wrongly attributed to President Biden. The message misled voters into thinking they should not participate in the upcoming primary election. The FCC’s Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (FCC 24-60) highlighted this misuse as a clear example of how advanced technologies can be exploited for malicious purposes, undermining both election integrity and consumer confidence in voice calls.
As a result of these violations, the FCC initially proposed a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom. Ultimately, the company settled for a $1 million civil penalty and committed to a detailed compliance plan.
This settlement underscores the FCC’s commitment to deterring fraudulent practices in the telecom industry, and, for the first time, communicates its expectations of what a robust KYC framework should look like.
We're happy to report, these recommendations walk hand in hand with Numeracle’s KYC Model Standards.
The FCC’s action marks the first time a U.S. regulator has specifically outlined KYC requirements for the telecom industry. Prior to this, there was a lack of clear regulatory guidance on KYC practices. Numeracle stepped in to fill this void by developing a comprehensive Model KYC Policy that sets the benchmark for robust KYC procedures.
Numeracle’s Model KYC Policy for Service and Platform Providers provides a thorough framework for verifying and managing enterprise identities and the suggested supporting information. It includes rigorous verification processes, clear documentation requirements, and proactive monitoring to prevent misuse and fraud.
The alignment of the FCC’s new KYC guidelines with Numeracle’s standards highlights the effectiveness and relevance of our approach. In a line-by-line, side-by-side comparison, the FCC’s requirements support Numeracle’s recommendations with a unified vision.
For telecom service providers, implementing a KYC policy is not just about avoiding negative, and, in the case of Lingo Telecom, public enforcement—it's about proactive risk management and maintaining the integrity of communication services. The alignment between Numeracle’s standards and the FCC’s newly established guidelines provides a clear path for achieving regulatory compliance and protecting against fraud.
Numeracle offers its Model KYC Standards at no cost to service and platform providers who wish to enhance their compliance practices. By adopting these standards, companies can be proactive in meeting regulatory expectations and avoid knowingly or unknowingly facilitating illegal, unverified traffic.
As the telecom industry adapts to these more clearly expressed regulatory expectations, leveraging proven KYC practices will be essential. Numeracle remains committed to leading the way in KYC compliance, providing industry best practices that align with both regulatory expectations and operational needs.
“Up until this point, the FCC hadn’t defined what it meant by KYC. Numeracle filled the gap, and we’re proud to provide our KYC Model Standards to every organization out there who wants to stand beside us to protect legal communications.” -- Keith Buell, General Counsel and Head of Global Public Policy, Numeracle
For more information on how Numeracle’s KYC standards can protect your voice customers and the integrity of your communications platform, download our free plug and play KYC template, or contact us today.
Know Your Customer (KYC) in telecom refers to the process of verifying the identity and intent of individuals or businesses before granting access to communications services. This identity validation helps prevent fraud, such as SIM swapping or spoofed phone calls, and supports industry compliance with federal and industry-led regulations. In the telecom ecosystem, KYC establishes trust between parties by ensuring that the phone numbers and services issued are tied to a legally recognized entity. Numeracle’s Entity Identity Management platform supports identity verification and ongoing management across telecom use cases.
Call labeling, blocking, and delivery problems often stem from a lack of trust in your identity as a caller. Carriers and analytics engines flag unverified numbers more easily—especially if they can’t tie your calls to a legitimate, known entity.
Numeracle’s Verified Identity process solves this by validating your legal business identity through a secure KYC process. Once verified, your identity becomes the foundation for all reputation management and branded calling efforts. Without this step, your numbers can’t be fully protected or trusted in the ecosystem.
Completing KYC is the key to unlocking consistent call delivery, accurate labeling, and long-term brand reputation.
Once you sign up with Numeracle, we conduct a thorough KYC review of your legal business identity and calling activity. Expect to submit business information and relevant identity documentation. After our verification is complete, your organization is issued your Verified Identity and set up as a trusted caller in our platform, which unlocks access to number registration, reputation protection, and branded calling across the voice ecosystem. This is a one-time process and required to activate any services.
Solutions without KYC may offer quick access to number registration or monitoring, but they lack the ability to verify who’s actually placing the calls. This opens the door for misuse, resulting in higher rates of spam labeling, call blocking, and reduced trust from carriers and analytics engines.
In contrast, solutions that include a KYC verification process—like Numeracle’s Verified Identity—validate the legal identity and authority of the calling party before any numbers are registered or protected. This creates a trusted foundation that carriers recognize and rely on when determining whether to allow or label a call. Without KYC, you're operating without proof of legitimacy; with KYC, you gain access to a protected, scalable, and reputation-safe calling strategy built on verified trust.
