The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a citizen advisory cautioning against fake calls where callers threaten to disconnect mobile numbers or misuse them for illegal activities.
The DoT also issued an advisory about WhatsApp calls from foreign-origin mobile numbers (like +92-xxxxxxxxxx) impersonating government officials and duping the people.
Cybercriminals through such calls try to threaten or steal personal information to carry out cyber-crime/financial frauds. The DoT/TRAI does not authorise anyone to make such a call on its behalf, as per an official statement released on May 14.
The telecom department has advised people to report such fraud communications at ‘Chakshu – Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility of Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc).
"Such proactive reporting helps DoT in prevention of misuse of telecom resources for cyber-crime, financial frauds, etc."
The DoT also advised citizens to report at cyber-crime helpline number 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in in case of already a victim of cyber-crime or financial fraud.
Under CHAKSHU facility, 52 Principal Entities, involved in sending malicious and phishing SMSs to the citizens were blacklisted, the telecom department said, adding that 700 SMS content templates have been deactivated.
The DoT also blacklisted 348 mobile handsets blacklisted on a pan-India basis across all telecom operators. It also blocked 1.86 lakh mobile handsets on a pan-India basis for involvement in cybercrime/financial fraud.
The department said that 10,834 suspected mobile numbers were flagged for re-verification to the telecom operators out of which 8272 mobile connections disconnected failing re-verification till 30th April 2024.
"Advisories have been issued regularly for the public to create awareness on fake notices impersonating DoT/TRAI, suspected fraud communications and malicious calls via press, SMS, and social media," it said.
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