International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System Blocks 1.35 Crore Calls in Just 24 Hours

The International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System has been activated, identifying and blocking around 1.35 crore spoofed calls within 24 hours, according to the telecom department. This initiative aims to significantly reduce such calls for Indian telecom users. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia introduced the system alongside Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.

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Cybercriminals have increasingly used international spoofed calls that display Indian numbers, misleading recipients into believing the calls originate locally. These calls are manipulated to appear as if they are coming from India by altering the calling line identity (CLI). Such spoofed calls have been linked to financial scams, impersonation of government officials, and creating panic among recipients.

Collaboration to Combat Spoofed Calls

The Department of Communications (DoT) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have collaborated to develop a system that identifies and blocks these spoofed calls from reaching Indian subscribers. Within just 24 hours of its launch, about 90% of incoming international calls with Indian numbers were identified as spoofed and blocked by TSPs.

Scammers have been exploiting digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to deceive people. They use tactics like deepfakes and voice cloning, making it difficult to detect online scams. Fraudsters can clone a person’s voice from short audio clips found online, then use this cloned voice to impersonate the person and demand money from their contacts.

Advanced Techniques in Cybercrime

Scammers also employ digital arrest methods, posing as law enforcement officers through audio or video calls. They intimidate victims into staying home for extortion purposes. These scams often involve fake documents and virtual settings resembling courtrooms or police stations to make the threats seem credible.

Recently, SP Oswal, chairman of Vardhman Group, was defrauded of Rs 7 crore by scammers posing as government officials. Similarly, Bharti Group Chairman Sunil Mittal shared an incident at the NDTV World Summit where a senior executive in Dubai received a fraudulent call mimicking Mittal's voice, instructing a large fund transfer. The vigilant executive detected the fraud in time.

Future Threats from Technology Misuse

Mittal expressed shock at how accurately his voice was replicated in the fraudulent call. He warned that future technological misuse could allow fraudsters to use digital signatures or even replicate faces on video calls for scams. Such advancements pose significant risks if individuals are not cautious.

The sophisticated nature of AI-driven scams makes them harder to detect. Fraudsters continue to find new ways to exploit technology for deceitful purposes. As these methods evolve, it becomes crucial for individuals and organisations to remain vigilant against potential threats.