DoT And MHA Strike Down On SMS Scammers

The recent crackdown on SMS scammers by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is a significant step towards protecting citizens from cyber fraud. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the actions taken and their implications:

Key Actions Taken

Identification and Analysis:

• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) provided crucial information about the misuse of eight SMS Headers used for fraudulent communications.
• An analysis revealed that over 10,000 fraudulent messages were sent using these headers in the past three months.

Blacklisting Entities and Headers:

• The fraudulent SMS Headers were associated with eight different Principal Entities (PEs).
• Following a thorough investigation, all eight PEs, along with 73 SMS Headers and 1522 SMS content templates owned by them, have been blacklisted.
• Consequently, none of these entities, headers, or templates can now be used to send SMS through any telecom operator.

Impact

• Prevention of Fraud: This decisive action has significantly curtailed the potential victimization of citizens by preventing these blacklisted entities from further engaging in fraudulent activities.
• Increased Security: By blacklisting these PEs and their associated headers and templates, DoT has enhanced the security of SMS communications, reducing the likelihood of citizens falling prey to SMS scams.

Reporting and Prevention Measures

• Chakshu Facility on Sanchar Saathi:
• Citizens are encouraged to report suspected fraudulent communications via the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi platform. This helps DoT monitor and prevent the misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud.

Telemarketing SMSs and Calls Regulation

• Prohibition of Mobile Numbers for Telemarketing:
• Mobile numbers cannot be used for telemarketing activities. If a consumer uses their phone for sending promotional messages, their connection will be disconnected upon the first complaint. Additionally, the consumer’s name and address will be blacklisted for two years.

Identifying Telemarketing Calls:

• Telemarketing calls can be identified by their specific prefixes: 180, 140. Ten-digit numbers are not permitted for telemarketing.

Reporting Spam:

• Citizens can report spam by dialing 1909 or using the Do Not Disturb (DND) service.

The collaborative efforts of DoT and MHA mark a significant advancement in the fight against cybercrime, specifically targeting SMS scams. By blacklisting fraudulent entities and providing robust reporting mechanisms, the government is reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding citizens from cyber fraud. This initiative not only enhances the security of telecommunications but also empowers citizens to actively participate in preventing cybercrime.