In a major crackdown on spam calls and unregistered telemarketing companies, 2.75 lakh telephone numbers have been disconnected, and services of 50 firms have been shut down. This action was taken as part of the strict measures recently adopted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
TRAI had earlier instructed telecom companies to blacklist telemarketing firms that were operating without proper registration and to disconnect their associated phone numbers. In a statement released on Tuesday, TRAI mentioned that it has observed a significant increase in fake calls. In the first half of 2024, more than 7.9 lakh complaints were registered against unregistered telemarketing firms.
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TRAI’s Statement
TRAI stated that on August 13, 2024, strict instructions were issued to all telecom service providers, directing them to immediately clamp down on unregistered telemarketing firms.
TRAI added, “In response to these instructions, telecom companies have taken strict measures to prevent the misuse of telecom resources for fake calls. They have blacklisted more than 50 firms and disconnected over 2.75 lakh SIP DID/mobile numbers/telecom resources. These steps are expected to reduce fake calls and provide relief to consumers.” TRAI also urged all stakeholders to contribute to a cleaner and more efficient telecom ecosystem.
Advice on Reporting Cybercrime
TRAI advised citizens to report cases related to cybercrime and financial fraud to the Department of Telecom’s communication partner platform, Chakshu Facility. Additionally, they can report such suspicious calls by contacting the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 or visiting the official website.