Department of Telecommunications’ Measures Against Fraudulent Mobile Connections
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has successfully blocked over 2 crore mobile connections associated with fraudulent activities, resulting in a 97 per cent decline in spoof calls, according to DoT Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal during a presentation on Wednesday.
Addressing the annual West Zone Conference focused on security issues in South Goa, Dr. Mittal showcased the government’s accomplishments in tackling telecom-related scams. He attributed much of this progress to the Sanchar Saathi initiative, which is specifically designed to identify and prevent the misuse of telecom services.
Dr. Mittal stated that spoof calls, where fraudsters alter caller IDs to commit deception, have decreased by 97 per cent due to the effectiveness of Sanchar Saathi as he spoke via video link.
In addition, the department has implemented a Digital Intelligence Platform aimed at enabling banks and financial institutions to share and access fraud-related information, thus enhancing safeguards against financial scams.
Dr. Mittal pointed out that while the telecom subscriber base in India is expanding rapidly, the exploitation of telecom resources for financial fraud has become more prevalent. To address this issue, the DoT is fortifying its cybersecurity framework, with artificial intelligence (AI) as a fundamental component.
He mentioned that AI-driven assessments have resulted in the disconnection of 78 lakh fraudulent mobile connections and the closure of 71,000 deceptive retail points of sale. Dr. Mittal highlighted that the incorporation of AI has been vital in detecting fraud and securing the telecom infrastructure.
Several other significant measures include:
- Expansion of telecom testing facilities to certify and secure equipment.
- Implementation of a Financial Fraud Risk Indicator to identify suspicious numbers.
- Upgrading the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) for real-time oversight.
- Partnerships with private entities to develop application-level and sector-specific security solutions.
