Membership Really Does Have Its Advantages

Matt Lowe:

For those unfamiliar with your organization, what is the CFCA?

Roberta Aronoff:

The Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) began in early 1985. It began as an organization comprised mostly of long distance carriers and security professionals primarily based in the United States. Due to the growing problem of fraud, they felt the need to organize to discuss the problems and determine potential solutions to combat fraud. The organization shifted and grew with the industry to eventually include ISPs, cable and satellite providers, law enforcement agencies, and wireless communications. Our membership has also grown to encompass global members across all continents.

Matt:

What are the benefits of being a CFCA member?

Roberta:

The strongest benefit to members is that they a professional network of industry experts to engage with the collaborative goal of telecom fraud prevention. Our organization emphasizes information sharing and collaborative work. It is a trusted environment where people from all across the industry can come together to combat fraud. Once a month, there is a member’s only webinar to discuss the latest trends and impacts of fraud. Lately, International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) has been a primary topic. The diversity in our membership base allows us to investigate and at times aid in the prosecution of fraudsters. Other benefits include:

1. Online library of fraud articles members can research to broaden their understanding of telecom fraud;

2. Information sharing forum that allows members to collaborate and inform others about recent fraud attacks;

3. Certification program—Certified Communications Security Professional (CCSP)—through years of experience and education, members can take an exam to graduate from this program that denotes industry expertise.

Matt:

How would someone join the CFCA?

Roberta:

Our application process begins online at CFCA.org under the “About Us” tab. There, potential members can review our constitution and privacy statement. There are a few considerations before joining—the size of the organization, how many members you want from your organization, the dues to be paid, and the application. Once the application is complete, our Membership Committee reviews the application and we notify the applicant of their acceptance.

I encourage potential members to attend one of our educational events as a guest. There are one-time and repeat guest rates for our conferences. There are webinars that we offer for open enrollment. Non-member involvement in the CFCA is always encouraged and available for those who are considering the full benefits of membership.

Membership is a great value. There are many educational opportunities within the CFCA, but above all, the collaborative nature of our organization is what unites us as we work together to prevent telecom fraud. A recent member recouped their annual dues as a result of a single fraud prevention case.

Matt:

How long have you been associated with the CFCA?

Roberta:

I have been the executive director since 2006 when the CFCA moved from a self-manage model to an outsourced model, and our firm CohnReznick began managing the CFCA.

Matt:

What is your background in Telecom?

Roberta:

CohnReznick managed the Telecommunications Risk Management Association (TRMA) which made us prime candidates for CFCA management. Prior to this, I was a consultant for many years in the telecom industry.