Sun Oct 06 07:39:12 UTC 2024: ## India Takes Action Against Spoofed Calls and Cybercrime
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that a central system to combat spoofed calls will be operational soon, marking a significant step in the ongoing fight against cybercrime. All four major telecom service providers – Airtel, Jio, Vodafone-Idea, and BSNL – have implemented the new system, effectively blocking a substantial portion of fraudulent calls and SMSes.
The DoT has already seen success in reducing spoofed calls, with one-third of the estimated 4.5 million calls being blocked from entering the Indian network. The department has also taken decisive action against cybercriminals, disconnecting over 1.77 crore mobile connections linked to fake documents and blocking 33.48 lakh connections used for fraudulent activities. Further, 77.61 lakh mobile connections exceeding prescribed limits per individual have been disconnected, and over 2.29 lakh mobile phones involved in cybercrime have been blocked across India.
The DoT’s efforts extend to tracing lost or stolen phones, with 12.02 lakh of the 21.03 lakh reported cases successfully resolved. The new system, deployed in two phases, aims to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls before they reach Indian subscribers. The first phase, implemented at the service provider level, targets calls spoofed using their own subscribers’ numbers. The central system, expected to be commissioned shortly, will eliminate the remaining spoofed calls across all service providers.
The DoT has also urged citizens to report suspicious calls through the Chakshu facility, a streamlined platform designed to detect and prevent potential fraud. Despite these robust safeguards, the DoT acknowledges that fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics. The department is committed to staying ahead of these developments and adapting its strategy to protect telecom users.
Meanwhile, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued strict instructions to service providers to combat spam. In the past month and a half, service providers have blacklisted over 680 entities and disconnected 18 lakh numbers.
This multi-pronged approach, involving the DoT, TRAI, and service providers, demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring the safety and security of India’s telecom ecosystem.
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