New Delhi: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, launched the ‘International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System’ today, marking a significant step in the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) ongoing efforts to enhance digital safety and protect citizens from cybercrime. The event was attended by Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, along with Secretary Telecom and other senior officials.
In recent times, cyber criminals have increasingly utilized international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers (+91-xxxxxxxxx). These calls, which appear to originate from within India, are actually made from overseas by manipulating the calling line identity (CLI). Such fraudulent practices have been linked to financial scams, impersonations of government officials, and various criminal threats.
The spectrum of crimes associated with these spoofed calls includes threats of disconnection from DoT/TRAI officials, fake digital arrests, drug-related threats in courier packages, and impersonation as police officials, among others.
In response to these alarming trends, the DoT has collaborated with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to implement a robust system designed to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls from reaching Indian telecom subscribers. Within just 24 hours of operation, the system successfully identified and blocked approximately 1.35 crore (or 90%) of incoming international calls that were flagged as spoofed.
“With the implementation of this system, Indian telecom subscribers should experience a significant reduction in spoofed calls from +91-xxxxxxx numbers,” Minister Scindia stated during the launch.
Despite these proactive measures, the Minister acknowledged that there may still be instances where fraudsters find alternative methods to reach victims. To combat this, he urged the public to report any suspected fraudulent communications through the Chakshu facility available on the Sanchar Saathi platform at www.sancharsaasthi.gov.in. The DoT remains dedicated to the ongoing fight against cybercrime.
For individuals who have already fallen victim to cybercrime, the government encourages them to report incidents via the cybercrime helpline number 1930 or visit the official website at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a safer digital environment for all citizens and enhancing measures to protect them from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
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