Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region today launched ‘International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System’, in the presence of Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. The launch ceremony was attended by Secretary Telecom and other senior officers. This is another milestone of DoT’s efforts towards building a safe digital space and protecting citizens from cyber-crime.

Of late, cyber criminals have been committing cyber-crimes by making international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers (+91-xxxxxxxxx). These calls appear to be originating within India but are actually being made from abroad by manipulating the calling line identity (CLI) or commonly known as phone number.

These spoofed calls have been used for financial scams, impersonating government officials, and creating panic. There have also been cases of cyber-crime threatening disconnection of mobile numbers by DoT/TRAI officials, fake digital arrests, drugs/narcotics in courier, impersonation as police officials, arrest in sex racket etc.

Department of Communications (DoT) and Telecom Service (TSPs) have collaborated and devised a system to identify and block such incoming international spoofed calls from reaching the Indian telecom subscribers. The system was made operational and it has been observed that within 24 hours of operation of the system, about 1.35 crore or 90% from all the incoming international calls with Indian phone numbers were identified as spoofed calls and blocked by TSPs from reaching Indian telecom subscribers. Indian telecom subscribers should see a significant reduction in such spoofed calls with +91-xxxxxxx numbers with implementation of this system.

Despite such best efforts, there could be cases where fraudsters succeed through other means. For such calls, you can help by reporting such suspected fraud communications at Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi (www.sancharsaasthi,gov.in ). The DoT remains committed to proactively combating cybercrime.

For those who have already lost money or been victims of cybercrime, please report the incident at the cybercrime helpline number 1930 or website  https://www.cybercrime.gov.in

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SB/DP/ARJ