Microsoft Teams Up with GASA to Fight Online Scams

Microsoft has expanded its reach to fight the growing number of online scams worldwide. The tech giant has partnered with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), a non-profit organization, as a Foundation Member. 

This partnership has been announced at a time when online scams are growing rapidly. If we go by the GASA report, nearly half of all global consumers faced at least one scam attempt every week in 2024. Apart from that, the financial losses due to such online scams are also increasing day by day. There are estimations that last year’s damage number surpassed the $1 trillion mark. 

However, the latest partnership is built on  Microsoft’s broader efforts to improve security across its platforms. Back in November 2023, the company launched its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a companywide strategy to address emerging cyber threats, including those involving artificial intelligence. As part of that initiative, Microsoft outlined a six-part framework focused on building safer technology, strengthening media authenticity, safeguarding its platforms, supporting regulation, and educating the public.

Along with joining GASA, Microsoft also announced that it is joining the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), a real-time data-sharing platform that monitors scam and fraud-related activity across the internet. 

This tool is operated by Oxford Information Labs and was launched in partnership with GASA. The GSE acts as a clearinghouse for scam-related threat signals. It is claimed to be tracking over 191 million indicators, such as malicious URLs and phishing attacks.

We are delighted to welcome Microsoft to the Global Signal Exchange. Fighting scams is a collaborative effort. Together we are changing the game, by putting a spotlight on where scams are happening online, in real time, and by sharing information about online scams and fraud across the internet ecosystem. We aim to help stop malicious activities faster, make them less effective and so less profitable for the criminals. To this end, The Global Signal Exchange empowers us all to share a vision for data sharing based on a global, multistakeholder, multisector platform.

Emily Taylor, Founder, Global Signal Exchange

By contributing its data and expertise, Microsoft will help the GSE strengthen its efforts to detect and prevent scams more quickly. The partnership also aims to expose not only scam activity but also the networks and individuals behind them.

However, such initiatives are not going to change anything overnight. But they’re quite essential in today’s day and age, as lots of new scams are being unveiled almost every day. For example, recently, a malicious WordPress plugin tricked website owners and gave hackers full access. Apart from that, there was a report that stated that over 1,200 SAP NetWeaver servers have been identified as vulnerable, and almost 500 are already compromised.