Department of Telecommunications Orders Telecom Operators to Play Cybercrime Awareness Caller Tune Daily

The telecom department has instructed operators to broadcast cyber crime awareness caller tunes 8-10 times daily to subscribers for three months. These tunes will be supplied by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division under the Home Ministry. The initiative aims to educate the public about cybercrime through pre-call announcements or ring back tones.

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Telecom service providers (TSPs) have been directed to implement this order immediately. The order, dated December 18, specifies that different caller tunes related to cybercrime will be provided weekly for three months. This campaign is part of efforts to combat rising financial frauds involving scams like digital arrests, where criminals impersonate authorities to extort money.

Cyber Crime Awareness Campaign

The I4C will supply the necessary audio files to TSPs through nodal officers. Subscribers will hear these caller tunes approximately 8-10 times a day. This strategy is designed to increase public awareness and prevent cybercrime by educating users about potential threats and scams.

In response to increasing incidents of fraud, the Centre and TSPs have developed a system to identify and block international spoofed calls that appear as if they originate from India. These spoofed calls have been linked to scams such as fake digital arrests and impersonation of government officials.

Efforts Against Spoofed Calls

According to the Centre, cybercriminals have used international spoofed calls in recent scams involving fake digital arrests and FedEx scams. By November 15, over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1,32,000 IMEIs had been blocked based on reports from police authorities. This measure aims to curb the misuse of Indian mobile numbers in fraudulent activities.

The ongoing efforts reflect a comprehensive approach by the Centre and telecom operators to tackle cybercrime. By raising awareness and blocking fraudulent communications, they aim to protect citizens from falling victim to these scams.