> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.1kosmos.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.1kosmos.com/identity-verification/fraud-prevention/phone-intelligence.md).

# Phone Intelligence

***

## Phone Intelligence

Phone intelligence evaluates a phone number to determine whether it is valid, what kind of line it is, and whether it shows signs of being used for fraud. Because phone numbers are widely used for one-time passcodes (OTPs) and account recovery, their trustworthiness has a direct impact on security.

{% hint style="info" %}
As with the other signals, no single phone attribute proves fraud. A VoIP number or a recent port is a risk indicator to weigh alongside the rest of the identity. 
{% endhint %}

### What the check analyzes

The phone number is evaluated for attributes such as:

* **Validity and format** — Whether the number is correctly formatted and active for the claimed country.
* **Line type** — Whether it is a mobile, landline, VoIP, or virtual/prepaid number.
* **Carrier and country** — The mobile carrier and the country the number is registered to.
* **Portability and recent porting** — Whether the number has recently been moved between carriers.
* **SIM-swap indicators** — Whether the SIM associated with the number was changed recently (subject to carrier data availability).
* **Identity linkage** — Whether the number is associated with the name or identity being presented.

### Risk signals it surfaces

| Signal                            | What it may indicate                                                                        |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| VoIP or virtual number            | The number is cheap and disposable, common in fraud and harder to tie to a real person.     |
| Recent SIM swap                   | An attacker may have hijacked the number to intercept OTPs — a key account-takeover vector. |
| Recently ported number            | Ownership may have changed; recovery and OTP delivery may be compromised.                   |
| Number not linked to the identity | The phone does not match the person being claimed.                                          |
| Invalid or unreachable number     | The contact point cannot reliably receive verification messages.                            |

### Benefits and use cases

* **OTP and account-takeover protection** — Detecting a recent SIM swap before sending an SMS OTP helps prevent passcode interception, one of the most damaging ATO techniques.
* **Smarter delivery decisions** — When a number is VoIP or unreachable, the journey can choose a more secure factor instead of relying on SMS.
* **Synthetic-identity detection** — Fabricated identities frequently use virtual or prepaid numbers with no genuine ownership history.
* **Fake-account prevention** — Block bulk registrations that depend on disposable numbers.
* **Lower friction for trusted users** — A long-held mobile number that matches the identity supports a faster, more confident verification.

### Where it fits in the journey

Phone intelligence is valuable **before sending any OTP or relying on the number for recovery**, and during step-up authentication when a number-based factor is about to be used.


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