New Delhi: An advisory has been issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to citizens not to attend fake calls wherein callers are harassing and threatening citizens to misuse their numbers for illegal purposes and disconnect their mobile numbers. Further, the DoT clarified that it does not call citizens, threatening disconnection.
“Fraud alert! Be cautious of fake apps & websites pretending to represent DoT India, Sanchar Saathi or Chakshu Portal. These scams may seek money or personal data”, wrote DoT India on X.
An advisory has also been issued by the DoT about WhatsApp calls mimicking government officials and duping people from foreign-origin mobile numbers (e.g., +92-xxxxxxxxxx). Cybercriminals use these threatening calls to steal essential personal information and carry out cybercrime or financial fraud. By clarifying, DoT/TRAI said it does not endorse anyone to make such calls on its behalf and instructed people to be alert and immediately report such fraud calls at the ‘Chakshu Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility of the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc).
Being alert and anticipating reporting help DoT crush the misuse of telecom resources for financial fraud and cybercrime. Citizens may report to cybercrime helpline number 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in, as advised by the DoT, in case they are already victims of financial fraud or cybercrime.
To counter suspected fraud calls and to restrict cybercrime activities, various measures have been taken. Fifty-two major entities involved in sending offensive and hacking SMSs to people have been blacklisted under the CHAKSHU facility. More than three hundred mobile handsets are blacklisted on a pan-India basis across all telecom operators. Seven hundred such SMS text templates have been deactivated. Around two lakh mobile handsets involved in cybercrime and financial fraud were blocked on a pan-India basis.
DoT/TRAI stated that it has issued advisories on a regular basis via the press, social media, and SMS for the public to create awareness about fake notices duping DoT/TRAI, suspected malicious calls, and fraud communications.
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