The government of India has directed major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, to block certain international calls. These measures aim to curb fraudulent activities and protect consumers from scam calls that display Indian caller IDs but originate from abroad.
DoT’s crackdown on international spoofed calls
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has identified international spoofed calls as a significant issue affecting Indian mobile users. These calls often deceive unsuspecting people by posing as local numbers by manipulating calling line identity (CLI), making it easier for scammers to gain trust and extract sensitive information. To combat this, the DoT has issued instructions to telecom companies to block all incoming international calls that appear with Indian numbers.
Telecom companies have been asked to implement these changes immediately and enhance their systems to identify and filter such calls effectively. The directive is part of a broader effort to improve cybersecurity and reduce the number of fraudulent activities targeting Indian mobile subscribers.
The problem and fix
This move follows numerous complaints from users who have fallen victim to scams involving spoofed calls. The government believes that stricter control and monitoring of international call traffic will help mitigate the risk and protect consumers from potential financial losses. It has identified as many as 6.8 lakh numbers as potentially fraudulent using artificial intelligence (AI).
In addition to blocking spoofed calls, the DoT has also advised telecom operators to educate their customers about the dangers of international scam calls. Awareness campaigns are expected to play a crucial role in informing users about the tactics used by scammers and the steps they can take to protect themselves. The public is advised to report such malicious calls at the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi portal.
Telecom companies have welcomed the government’s initiative, acknowledging the growing threat posed by international spoofed calls. They have assured full compliance with the new regulations and committed to enhancing their security infrastructure to better serve their customers.
As technology advances and scammers become more sophisticated, continuous efforts and collaborations between the government and telecom operators are essential to stay ahead of malicious actors and ensure a secure communication environment for all users.
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