The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is taking proactive measures to protect the public from fraudulent activities by issuing a warning to telecom service providers. Trai Secretary V Raghunandan has emphasised the increasing prevalence of deceptive messages claiming to be from Trai, leading to financial frauds. In response, Trai is set to launch an advisory campaign to caution the public and raise awareness about these deceptive practices.
Trai’s Concerns
V Raghunandan expressed concern about the rising number of fraudulent messages exploiting the name of Trai. He highlighted the urgency of alerting subscribers to prevent further incidents of fraud. In an interview with ET, he stated, “Nowadays, in the name of Trai, many messages are being sent, and the public are being defrauded.”
Advisory Message Details
To address the issue, Trai will disseminate a cautionary message from the BT-TRAIND header, a recognized terminology used by Trai nationwide. The message will explicitly state that Trai never initiates messages or calls for verification, disconnection, or reporting unlawful activities related to mobile numbers. Subscribers are urged to be cautious and report any communication claiming to be from Trai to the national cybercrime reporting portal.
Collaboration with Telecom Service Providers
Recognizing the widespread impact of fraudulent messages, Trai has collaborated with major telecom service providers to extend the reach of the advisory. Leading companies such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will share cautionary messages with their vast subscriber bases, totaling approximately 1.15 billion mobile users in India.
Implementation and Regional Language Outreach
Telecom operators are expected to send the cautionary message to all subscribers within the next week to 10 days. Additionally, Trai has mandated the scheduling of these texts in regional languages to ensure effective communication and understanding among diverse linguistic communities.
Emerging Fraudulent Practices
The warning comes in response to recent incidents where fraudsters have targeted mobile subscribers, posing as Trai officials. These deceptive messages often request a no objection certificate (NOC) for tower installation or seek verification of existing mobile numbers to allegedly avoid disconnection.
As technology advances, so do the tactics of fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Trai’s proactive approach to address this issue not only safeguards the public but also underscores the importance of collaboration between regulatory bodies and telecom service providers to ensure the security of communication channels. By issuing clear warnings and promoting awareness, Trai aims to empower subscribers in recognizing and reporting potential fraudulent activities, contributing to a safer digital environment for all.
