The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a public notice informing the general public that certain companies, agencies, or individuals are fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as TRAI representatives and contacting unsuspecting individuals, claiming that their mobile numbers will be disconnected due to their alleged involvement in sending unsolicited messages. These fraudulent entities are also fabricating claims that AADHAAR numbers of unsuspecting individuals were used to obtain SIM cards and are being exploited for illicit activities. Further, in an attempt to deceive the public, these companies, agencies, or individuals are urging customers to engage in Skype video calls to avert the purported disconnection of their mobile numbers.
Accordingly, TRAI has informed the public that it does not engage in the blocking or disconnection of any mobile numbers belonging to individual telecom customers. Furthermore, TRAI never transmits messages or initiates calls pertaining to the disconnection of mobile numbers. Additionally, the TRAI has not authorised any agency to contact customers for such activities and all such calls are illegal and are to be dealt as per law. Therefore, any call or message claiming to be from TRAI should be considered potentially fraudulent.
As per Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR) 2018 of TRAI, access service providers are responsible for taking appropriate actions against the mobile numbers involved in sending unsolicited communications. Affected persons may take up the matter with the concerned service providers directly on their respective customer service centre numbers or on national cybercrime reporting portal.
