DoT alert on frauds via international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers

The government has directed telecom operators to block all incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers, an official statement said on Sunday.

The department of telecom (DoT) said it has been reported that fraudsters are making international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers to Indian citizens and committing cyber-crime and financial frauds.

Such calls appear to be originating within India but are being made by cyber-criminals from abroad by manipulating the calling line identity and have been misused in recent cases of fake digital arrests, FedEx scams, drugs or narcotics in courier, impersonation as government and police officials, disconnections of mobile numbers etc.

“The DoT and telecom service providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block such international spoofed calls from reaching any Indian telecom subscriber. Now directions have been issued to the TSPs to block such incoming international spoofed calls,” it said.

The incoming international spoofed calls with Indian landline numbers are being already blocked by the TSPs according to the directions issued by the DoT.

“Despite best efforts, some fraudsters succeed through other means. You can report such communications at the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi,” the statement said.