Department of Telecom, Telcos launches system to stop overseas spoof calls

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecom (DoT) along with telecom service providers (TSPs) is launching a new system to detect and block international spoofed calls from reaching Indian telecom subscribers, as per the official statement.

"DoT, in collaboration with TSPs, has introduced an advanced system designed to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls before they can reach Indian telecom subscribers. This system is being deployed in two phases: first, at the TSP level, to prevent calls spoofed with phone numbers of their own subscribers; and second, at a central level, to stop calls spoofed with the numbers of subscribers from other TSPs," the statement said.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) further said that the number of fraudulent calls targeting Indians have increased, which are often made by cyber criminals operating from abroad and disguised as originating from Indian mobile numbers.

According to the DoT, cyber criminals manipulate the Calling Line Identity (CLI) to conceal the original source of the calls, leading to numerous incidents involving threats of mobile number disconnection, fake digital arrests, and even impersonation of government officials or law enforcement agencies. Recent cases have included false accusations related to drugs, narcotics, and sex rackets, increasing public concern.

"As of now, all four TSPs have successfully implemented the system. About one-third of total spoofed calls at 4.5 million spoofed calls are being stopped from entering the Indian telecom network. The next phase, involving a centralised system that will eliminate the remaining spoofed calls across all TSPs, is expected to be commissioned shortly," DoT said in its statement.

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