The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a fresh warning to mobile users over a growing number of scam calls falsely appearing as international calls while displaying India’s +91 country code. The government has urged citizens to stay cautious and avoid sharing any personal or banking details during such suspicious calls.
In an advisory shared on X, the DoT clarified that genuine international calls always display the country code of the country from where the call originates. Officials said any call claiming to be international while showing the +91 prefix should be treated as suspicious and reported immediately. The alert comes amid a sharp rise in telecom and cyber fraud cases across the country.
Fraudsters Using Caller ID Spoofing
According to the telecom department, cybercriminals are increasingly using caller ID spoofing technology to manipulate the number shown on a user’s phone screen. Scammers often pose as telecom officials, police officers, bank employees or customer care executives to trick people into revealing confidential information.
Authorities said these fraud calls are usually designed to create fear and panic. Victims are often threatened with SIM card suspension, fake legal action, unpaid bill notices or parcel-related issues. Fraudsters then attempt to obtain sensitive information such as OTPs, ATM PINs, passwords and Aadhaar-linked details.
Users Asked To Stay Alert
The DoT has advised users not to answer suspicious calls or click on unknown links sent during such interactions. Citizens have also been warned against calling back missed numbers that appear unfamiliar or suspiciously international.
Officials reiterated that authentic international calls cannot display India’s +91 code unless the caller is actually using an Indian mobile connection. Users have been urged to independently verify unknown callers before sharing any information.
Report Suspicious Calls
To curb rising telecom frauds, the government has encouraged people to report suspicious calls and cyber fraud attempts through the Sanchar Saathi platform.
Cybersecurity experts said public awareness remains one of the strongest defenses against telecom scams, especially as caller spoofing methods become increasingly advanced.
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