Interconnect Refile

Also known as: CLI Refile, Reorigination

Refile is the practice by a transit carrier of manipulating the CLI or routing of an international call so that it appears to originate from a different, cheaper country when presented to the terminating operator, lowering the termination rate paid. Refile is used both as a legitimate least-cost routing optimisation and as a fraud vector when it strips or falsifies the true origin CLI, undermining anti-spoofing and interconnect settlement.

Categories: Roaming and InterconnectFraudInternet and Routing

Refile in context

Roaming and interconnect are where two operators, often with an IPX or GRX carrier in between, exchange signaling and user-plane traffic. Trust boundaries here are the primary attack surface for location tracking, SMS interception and fraud, which is why GSMA now mandates SEPP with PRINS on 5G interconnect.

Telecom fraud costs operators an estimated $40+ billion per year. Common vectors include International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF), Wangiri callback scams, SIM box bypass, PBX hacking, subscription fraud and A2P grey routing. Effective defense combines real-time signaling analytics with CDR-side machine learning.

To place Refile in the wider telecom-security picture, review BGCF, Refile Fraud, Grey Route, Interconnect Bypass Fraud, Bypass Fraud and OTT Bypass.

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