NEW DELHI: The Union Govt’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued urgent directions to telecom service providers to block incoming international calls that are spoofed to display Indian mobile numbers. This move aims to combat a rising wave of cyber fraud and financial scams perpetrated by overseas criminals masquerading as local callers.
The menace of international spoofed calls has recently escalated, with fraudsters exploiting the manipulated caller ID to perpetrate various scams, including fake digital arrests, FedEx impersonations, drug trafficking ruses, and even posing as government or police officials threatening disconnection of mobile services.
“These calls appear to originate within India, but are actually being made by cyber criminals abroad who are manipulating the calling line identity,” explained a senior DoT official. “Such international spoofed calls have been misused in numerous recent fraud cases, putting the safety and security of Indian telecom users at grave risk.”
While incoming international calls displaying foreign numbers are already being blocked as per DoT’s previous directives, the new guidelines specifically target those spoofed to show Indian mobile or landline numbers, deceiving recipients into answering what appears to be a domestic call.
The government has taken this decisive action as part of its Digital India vision, which prioritizes the safety and security of telecom users. Earlier initiatives include the launch of the citizen-centric Sanchar Saathi portal (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/), which serves as a valuable resource for telecom-related information and advisories.
Through the portal, the DoT has been actively warning citizens about the dangers of international spoofed calls displaying Indian numbers. “Subscribers are requested to inform such cases on toll-free numbers 1800110420/1963 to the Department of Telecommunications. This advisory is also being floated by your Telecom Service Providers to you through SMS,” states the Sanchar Saathi alert.
The portal’s “Report Incoming International Call With Indian Number” (RICWIN) module empowers citizens to report suspected illegal international calls masquerading as local numbers. “RICWIN enables citizens to be the government’s eyes and ears, helping bust suspected illegal telecom setups that cause loss to the exchequer and pose a threat to national security,” the portal explains.
Sanchar Saathi provides detailed guidelines on how to report such calls, including visiting the portal, verifying one’s mobile number via OTP, and submitting the spoofed number, date, and time of the received call.
“These calls conceal the identity of the original calling party. The number displayed during such international calls is manipulated,” the portal cautions, urging vigilance from citizens in identifying and reporting such suspicious communications.
While the DoT assures confidentiality for those reporting illegal calls, it acknowledges that some fraudsters may still succeed through other means. In such cases, citizens can further assist authorities by reporting suspected fraud communications through the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi.
As the crackdown on international spoofed calls intensifies, the government and telecom industry remain committed to safeguarding Indian subscribers from the growing threat of cyber fraud and ensuring the integrity of the nation’s telecom infrastructure.