The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked mobile users to report fraudulent calls, text messages and WhatsApp messages from third-party agencies falsely claiming to be TRAI and threatening disconnections.
As per TRAI, perpetrators are utilising forged notices, designed to resemble official communication from senior officers of TRAI. These notices falsely allege illegal activity associated with the recipient’s mobile number and pressure them into contacting law enforcement or face service termination. In addition, citizens are threatened that mobile numbers will be disconnected if they do not respond.
TRAI stated that it does not initiate communication regarding mobile number disconnection through messages or official notices. TRAI added that it has not authorised any third-party agency to contact customers for such purposes. Therefore, any form of communication (call, message, or notice) claiming to be from TRAI and threatening mobile number disconnection should be considered a potential fraudulent attempt.
Further, it added that to prevent the misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud, citizens are encouraged to report suspected fraudulent communications through the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi platform.
