Govt Cracks Down on Tele-Fraud: Over 1 Lakh Connections, 2K Handsets Blocked

New Delhi: Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, detailed comprehensive measures undertaken by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to combat tele-fraud and fraudulent communications.

While sharing details on the matter the minister highlighted that all the initiatives have resulted in the disconnection of over 1 lakh mobile connections, as well as the blocking of over 2000 handsets.

AI-Driven Systems and Citizen Empowerment

The DoT has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based system to identify mobile connections obtained using fake documents. Central to this initiative is the Sanchar Saathi portal, which empowers citizens through its “Chakshu” facility.

Chakshu allows individuals to report suspected fraudulent communications and Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).

Key achievements of the initiative include:

Disconnection of 1.03 lakh mobile connections.
Blocking of 2,809 mobile handsets.
Disengagement of 6,261 WhatsApp accounts.
Blacklisting of 146 Principal Entities, 2,698 headers, and 1.24 lakh SMS templates.

Additionally, the Prevention of Spoofed Incoming International System has been implemented to identify and block international spoofed calls disguised as originating from Indian numbers. This mechanism has proven effective in combating cybercriminal activities, including scams involving fake digital arrests and impersonation of government officials.

Guidelines for Telecom Service Providers

The DoT has issued multiple instructions, dated April 2022, June 2022, May 2024, and October 2024, directing Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to identify and block spoofed calls. Similarly, TRAI issued directives on August 13, 2024, mandating strict action against entities violating promotional call regulations. Consequences include:

Disconnection of telecom resources.
Blacklisting for up to two years.
A ban on new resource allocation during the blacklisting period.
Post these directives, TSPs have disconnected 18.8 lakh telecom resources and blacklisted 1,150 entities/individuals.

Impact of Anti-Spam Measures

TRAI’s August 2024 directive led to a notable reduction in complaints against Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs). The decline in complaints from August to October 2024 is as follows:

August 2024: 1,89,419 complaints.
September 2024: 1,63,167 complaints (13% reduction from August).
October 2024: 1,51,497 complaints (20% reduction from August).

Telecom Cyber Security Rules

In November, DoT notified Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, aimed at ensuring robust cybersecurity. The rules prohibit actions that endanger telecom cybersecurity, including fraud, cheating, and the transmission of fraudulent messages.

These initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to leveraging technology and regulatory frameworks to combat tele-fraud and enhance the security of India’s telecommunications network.