New Delhi: In a decisive step against cybercrime, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has successfully implemented measures to block international spoofed calls that were previously deceiving Indian citizens.
Fraudsters have been using international numbers disguised as Indian mobile numbers to carry out cyber crimes and financial frauds. These calls, though appearing to originate from within India, were manipulated through Calling Line Identity (CLI) spoofing to bypass detection.
To address this issue, DoT, in collaboration with telecom service providers (TSPs), launched an indigenously developed International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System.
The system has proven highly effective, blocking approximately 90 per cent of identified spoofed calls — an estimated 1.35 crore calls in just 24 hours. The number of spoofed calls using Indian numbers has now drastically reduced to around 4 lakh per day, showcasing the tool’s impact in curbing such fraudulent activities.
New Measures to Combat Evolving Scams
As scammers shifted tactics to use international numbers instead, DoT introduced additional countermeasures. It directed TSPs to display “International Call” on all calls originating from outside India.
This alert helps citizens recognize that such calls cannot come from official organizations like DoT, TRAI, police, or RBI. One major service provider has already implemented this measure, with others in the process of following suit.
In another significant move, DoT instructed Indian TSPs, including Airtel, BSNL, and Reliance Jio, to block traffic from international carriers repeatedly involved in transmitting spoofed CLI calls.
So far, more than 20 such carriers and aggregators have been blacklisted, further reducing the risk of fraudulent calls reaching Indian users.
Empowering Citizens with Sanchar Saathi
DoT’s Sanchar Saathi mobile app and portal have emerged as valuable tools in the fight against cybercrime. Citizens can now report fraudulent calls directly from their call logs, streamlining the reporting process.
This active participation by the public has not only raised awareness but also enabled DoT to take swift action against offenders.
The Sanchar Saathi app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, ensuring ease of access. Proactive reporting through this platform has become a cornerstone of DoT’s efforts to maintain a secure telecom ecosystem.
DoT remains committed to leveraging advanced technologies and fostering collaboration with stakeholders to safeguard the telecom sector.
The recent measures, combined with citizen participation, underline a robust approach to combating cybercrimes and ensuring a safer communication environment for all.
Also Read –
RBI’s Latest Guidelines on Preventing Financial Frauds via Voice Calls and SMS: An Overview
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