Spoofed Calls: Indian government combats phone scams

The Indian government is fighting back against phone fraud, which has significantly impacted the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and telecom companies implemented the “International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System.” This system initially blocked 70% of spoofed calls, reducing the volume from 1.5 crore (15 million) calls daily to around 5 lakh (500,000).

However, scammers adapted by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to disguise their location, making some Indian calls appear international. The DoT is now working with international long-distance operators and exploring AI solutions to address this new challenge. “This is a more complex problem that requires a multi-pronged solution. There is no mathematical formula to block all calls with international numbers so there may be some cost attached,” an official stated.

Authorities are also using other methods to combat phone fraud. A facial recognition and AI tool called ASTR has identified 7.8 million fraudulent SIM cards registered under different names by the same person. This led to 365 legal cases against 1,900 points of sale violating regulations.

Furthermore, an analysis of 690,000 Indian mobile users roaming in Southeast Asia since July 2024 revealed suspected fraudulent activity. As a result, roughly 200,000 connections and 9,828 handsets were blocked. Information sharing is also being enhanced via the Digital Intelligence Platform, which connects 520 entities, including security agencies, police, banks, telecom companies, and platforms like WhatsApp.