New Delhi: Amid a surge in fraudulent calls and messages impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the regulator has issued a strong advisory to consumers, urging everyone not to fall victim to such scams.
In an official clarification, TRAI stated that it does not contact consumers directly regarding mobile disconnection.
TRAI also stated that it has not authorised any third-party agency to issue such warnings or take action on its behalf. The advisory follows multiple media reports indicating that fraudsters have been calling users or sending text messages while posing as TRAI officials and threatening about sudden mobile disconnection.
According to the modus operandi, these callers often threaten to disconnect mobile services, citing alleged illegal activity, intending to extort money.
TRAI emphasized that decisions related to the disconnection of mobile numbers, whether due to billing issues, incomplete KYC, or misuse, are handled solely by the respective telecom service providers (TSPs).
Consumers have been advised to remain calm, verify any suspicious communications by reaching out to their telecom provider’s official customer service, and avoid responding to or acting upon any unverified claims.
To help combat such cyber-enabled fraud, the Department of Telecommunications has urged citizens to report suspicious messages or calls through the Chakshu feature available on the Sanchar Saathi platform.
This initiative is part of broader efforts to curb the misuse of telecom infrastructure for cybercrimes and financial scams.
