New System to Combat Spoofed Calls in India
The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) in India has taken a significant step to combat cybercrime with the launch of the ‘International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System’ on October 22, 2024. This innovative system aims to identify and block calls that appear to originate from within India but are actually made by cybercriminals manipulating the calling line identity (CLI) from abroad. Spoofed calls have become a common tool for fraudsters, who impersonate officials from the DoT, TRAI, and even law enforcement agencies to deceive unsuspecting citizens.
Understanding Spoofed Calls and Their Impact
Spoofed calls are a serious threat to the safety and security of telecom subscribers. Cybercriminals often use these calls to create panic or confusion. They may threaten disconnection of mobile services, falsely claim to be police officials, or even involve victims in fake drug trafficking schemes. The DoT’s new system is designed to tackle these issues head-on.
Within just 24 hours of its implementation, the system successfully identified and blocked approximately 1.35 crore (13.5 million) spoofed calls. This represents about 90% of all incoming international calls that had manipulated Indian phone numbers. By December 2024, the number of spoofed calls detected and blocked had decreased to around 6 lakhs (600,000). This significant reduction indicates that the system is effectively addressing the problem of cybercrime linked to spoofed calls.
Evolving Tactics of Cybercriminals
Despite the success of the new system, cybercriminals are adapting their tactics. Reports indicate that fraudsters are now using international numbers that do not start with the Indian country code (+91). Instead, they are using codes such as +8, +85, and +65. This shift makes it more challenging for the DoT and telecom service providers to identify and block these calls.
In response to this evolving threat, the DoT has formed a dedicated task force. This task force includes various stakeholders who are actively working to address the issue of spoofed calls. One of their key recommendations is for telecom service providers (TSPs) to display “International Call” notifications for calls coming from outside India. This measure will help users recognize that such calls are unlikely to be from legitimate Indian authorities.
Steps Taken by Telecom Service Providers
Telecom service providers are taking proactive measures to implement the recommendations of the DoT’s task force. Airtel, one of the leading TSPs, has already begun displaying “International Call” notifications for all incoming calls from outside the country. Other TSPs are currently exploring the technical feasibility of implementing similar measures.
The DoT has also advised citizens to exercise caution when answering calls from unfamiliar international numbers, especially those that do not begin with +91. Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious calls claiming to be from Indian government authorities through the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi website. For those who have fallen victim to cybercrime, immediate reporting is essential. The cybercrime helpline number is 1930, and victims can also report incidents online at cybercrime.gov.in.
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