There has been an increase in fraudulent telephone calls disguised as local numbers in recent years which has alarmed Indian citizens. Messages sent by cybercriminals operating internationally originate from Calling Line Identity (CLI) systems that allow them to mask their true origins by masking their callers' actual localizations. Some victims have reported threats of being disconnected from their mobile phone service, being falsely arrested, being impersonated as government officials, and being falsely accused of marijuana and sex fraud.
To deal with this escalating threat, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is taking significant steps to ensure citizens' safety while enhancing the security of the telecommunication ecosystem as a whole.
As a result of the unfortunate development of a fraudulent call in Agra, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to deactivate the WhatsApp account which was linked to the scam call in Agra, but it couldn't be deactivated until Friday.
Governing bodies are urging citizens to report any suspicious messages or calls via the Chakshu portal at http://sancharsaathi.gov.in/chakshu so that the DoT can investigate.
DoT has introduced a new system for the detection and blocking of international or spoofed calls before they enter Indian territory in response to the increased threat of scams of this nature. This system has been developed in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to prevent such scams from reaching Indian users. This system will be implemented at both a local level and at a central level.
The first stage will be on the local level where calls will be blocked with numbers won from subscribers belonging to TSPs, and a second stage will be implemented at a central level where spoofed calls will be blocked with numbers won from other TSPs.
It wants to put a stop to the rising number of fraudulent calls, which are being disguised as coming from Indian mobile numbers, according to a statement released by the Department of Telecommunications on Friday.
A large number of these calls are being manipulated by cybercriminals operating from distant locations.
It was stated in the statement that criminals were utilizing Calling Line Identity (CLI) to mask the actual origin of the phone calls. This has led to a spate of incidents where mobile numbers were threatened to be disconnected, false digital arrests were made, and even law enforcement officials were impersonated.
There has been an increase in the number of false accusations related to drugs, narcotics, and sex rackets in recent years, further intensifying public concerns about these activities.
The Indian Department of Telecom (DoT) recently announced that it had implemented the system successfully in all four TSPs and that about one-third of the total spoofed calls at 4.5 million spoofed calls have been intercepted before they can enter the Internet.
The next phase of this project, which involves a centralized system to eliminate all spoofed calls throughout all TSPs, is expected to be completed within a short timeframe.
Moreover, the Department of Transport has established the Sanchar Saathi portal, which acts as a citizen-centric platform by allowing citizens to report suspected fraudulent messages and communications, report stolen or lost devices, verify whether a mobile device is genuine before buying it, and report incoming international calls made from Indian numbers to the DoT.
Aside from that, the Department of Transportation launched a Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which is a secure online platform that will allow stakeholders such as banks and telecom companies to exchange real-time information with one another to prevent the misuse of telecommunications services.
According to the DoT, the department also announced that 1.77 million mobile connections were disconnected as a result of fake documentation.
Additionally, cybercriminals have been punished for their crimes with targeted actions, including the blocking of 33.48 lakh connections and 49,930 handsets that they used.
As part of this program, 12.02 lakh out of the 21.03 lakh reported lost and stolen smartphones were traced and 2.29 lakh devices linked to cybercrime activities were blocked.
As a citizen, the Sanchar Saathi platform offers a tool for citizens to report suspected incidents of fraud through the Chakshu feature, which can help deter identity theft, exploitation, and other forms of cybercrime.
There are various ways to report scams, including providing screenshots, describing the type of scams, providing details on the medium using which they were communicated, including the time and date when the suspicious contact occurred, etc. To make sure that the submission process is as secure as possible, OTP-based verification is included in the process.
This is why DoT has issued an advisory urging citizens to report suspicious calls and messages through the 'Chakshu' facility on the Sanchar Saathi (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/) platform to play a more active role in combating this issue.
The user can also provide additional information about suspected fraudulent communications, including screenshots, the medium of receipt, and a description of the intended type of fraud, in addition to the screenshots. Authentication of the identity will be carried out through the use of a one-time password (OTP).
Citizens must safeguard themselves from cyber fraud by taking proactive measures such as the Chakshu facility. As a result, it can be used by fraud investigators as a tool to help detect scams earlier and prevent significant losses from occurring.
The Department of Transportation is undertaking a broad range of initiatives.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has implemented several initiatives aimed at addressing the misuse of telecom resources, with a focus on combating cybercrime and financial fraud.
One of the key measures introduced is the Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU). This initiative is designed to strengthen the monitoring of telecom activities and intervene effectively to prevent cybercrime and fraudulent activities.
The DIU works to improve oversight by utilizing advanced systems that enhance the detection of suspicious activities across the telecom network.
Another significant platform launched by the DoT is the Sanchar Saathi Portal. This citizen-focused portal empowers users to actively report cases of telecom fraud, track all mobile connections registered under their name, and block devices that have been lost or stolen.
Additionally, the portal allows users to verify the authenticity of mobile handsets, ensuring they are not using counterfeit or compromised devices.
The DoT has also introduced the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which serves as a secure online interface for various stakeholders, including Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), banks, and law enforcement agencies. This platform facilitates the sharing of critical information related to the misuse of telecom resources.
Through DIP, real-time updates on disconnected mobile connections are made available, allowing for swift action to be taken in fraud prevention and mitigation.
Moreover, the DoT has deployed AI-based tools to enhance the detection of mobile connections obtained through fraudulent documentation. These tools identify connections linked to illegal or fake credentials, as well as the associated devices used in fraudulent activities. Once detected, these connections and devices are systematically removed from the telecom ecosystem, thereby enhancing the integrity and security of the network.
