DoT issues advisory against ‘*401#’ scam, warns of call forwarding fraud
DoT issues advisory against '*401#' scam, warns of call forwarding fraud
In a proactive move to combat cybercrimes and fraud, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a cautionary advisory urging citizens to avoid dialling *401# followed by an unknown mobile number. This action could activate unconditional call forwarding, allowing fraudsters to reroute incoming calls to the specified unknown number.
The modus operandi of the scam involves fraudsters posing as customer service representatives or technical support staff from telecom service providers. They contact telecom subscribers, prompting them to dial *401# followed by an unfamiliar mobile number. Once activated, this call-forwarding scam provides cybercriminals with an opportunity to exploit incoming calls for fraudulent activities.
The advisory, which specifically targets users of major telecom operators, including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone-Idea, and BSNL, follows the resurgence of the ‘*401#’ call forwarding scam in October. In this scam, criminals, impersonating delivery agents, bank representatives, or service providers, deceive users into dialling the specified number, enabling call redirection to unknown numbers selected by cyber criminals.
Highlighting the severity of the scam, the DoT warns mobile users about potential threats to cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of ignoring calls and instructing users to dial ‘*401#.’ Cybercriminals frequently adopt tactics like impersonating bank agents or telecom support representatives, claiming network issues, and instructing users to resolve the problem by dialling ‘*401#.’
To prevent falling victim to call forwarding scams, users are advised to refrain from responding to such service calls and to avoid using the provided numbers for call forwarding. In case users unknowingly activate call forwarding through such scams, prompt action is recommended. Users can navigate to the phone settings, access call settings, and disable the call forwarding option or restore default settings.
The DoT’s advisory serves as a crucial reminder for mobile users to exercise caution, stay vigilant and adopt preventive measures to safeguard against evolving cyber threats. As cybercriminals continue to devise new tactics, user awareness and prompt responses become paramount in maintaining digital security.
