DoT bans ‘these’ number codes. Check details here

By: Pune Pulse

December 7, 2023

Pune:  As the threat of fraudulent calls from international phone numbers and caller IDs grows, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) India has blocked up to 65 telecom setups in the 2023–2024 fiscal year as these allowed international calls with fake Indian phone numbers.

According to a Ministry of Communications official, a total of 65 illegal telecom setups from FY 2023–2024, 62 from FY 2022–2023 and 35 from FY 2021–2022 have been found thus far. The official went on to say that the DoT has instructed the International Long Distance Operators (ILDOS) to reject international incoming calls that have no Calling Line Identification (CLI), an improper CLI, or CLI prefix like +11, 011 & 11, +911 to +915. This is done to stop incoming international calls from fake Indian phone numbers.

The Department of Transportation (DoT) is locating illegal telecom setups that permit international calls using fictitious Indian phone numbers in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). These illicit setups are used for financial fraud, cybercrimes and anti-national activities. Following the required subscriber re-verification, telecom service providers are disconnecting such fake mobile numbers. Around 13.08 lakh such mobile connections have been disconnected so far.

DoT is also blocking apps that allow fake calls as part of the security measures. Such fake apps have been blocked on Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play Store.

Shreyas Vange