India launches dedicated portal ‘Chakshu’ to report fraud calls, WhatsApp messages

To stop the menace of fraud over spam calls/SMS/WhatsApp, the government on Monday launched ‘Chakshu’ as part of the Sanchar Saathi portal.

After launching the platform, Union Minister for Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the government has been persistently taking steps to check cyber-frauds under the Secure India project.

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has taken many steps so that people can make use of tools like ‘Chakshu’ to address their grievances as well as save themselves from cyber-frauds.

‘Chakshu’ enables people to report suspected fraud communications with the intention of defrauding telecom service users for cyber-crime, financial fraud, non-bonafide purposes like impersonation, or any other misuse through calls, SMS, or WhatsApp.

Almost in real-time, data will be shared with all stakeholders in case of suspected fraud, said Vaishnaw.

In case, a person is already a victim of cyber-crime or financial fraud, it is advised to report at cyber-crime helpline number 1930. The person can also report the fraud on the website https://www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Such platforms have helped to prevent frauds worth an estimated Rs 1,008 crore, said Vaishnaw.

The government has effectively controlled fraudulent international calls “which had become a menace in the recent past,” Vaishnaw further said.

In May 2023, the Sanchar Saathi portal was unveiled.