An increase in phone calls and messages purporting to be from government officials has prompted the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to issue a public warning. Usually, the goal of these scams is to manipulate victims by inciting fear and using accusations of involvement in illegal activities or threats of disconnecting a mobile number.
The Mechanism of Scam.
Scammers are employing smart strategies to trick people into believing that their Aadhaar numbers are being misused or that there are illicit activities connected to them which will result in the disconnectal of their mobile numbers. Following that the con artists ask victims to participate in Skype calls in an attempt to obtain private information like passwords credit card numbers and bank account information. In an effort to obtain personal information or take over the victims device fraudsters may pose as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) representatives and utilize malware or phishing links during Skype calls.
Defending Yourself Against Con artists.
The DoT recommends the following safety measures to help prevent falling for these scams:
Do Not Engage: Refrain from answering opportunistic calls or messages purporting to be from government representatives especially if they threaten to disconnect or demand immediate action.
Verify Information: You should always get in touch with your telecom service provider directly through official channels to confirm the legitimacy of any calls you receive.
Report Scams: Inform Your Telecom Service Provider or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in about any suspicious calls or messages you receive. The Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930 is another resource you can use.
Actions and Suggestions from the Authorities.
TRAI underscores that no government agency will use unsolicited calls or messages to request sensitive information or quick action. In order to safeguard their clients service providers must handle these fraudulent activities and take the necessary precautions. By emailing trai.gov.in people can also report any such scams to the Senior Research Officer/Deputy Advisor (Consumer Affairs) at TRAI along with specific details about the attempted scam.
In conclusion.
To counter these fraudulent schemes awareness and vigilance are essential. People can guard against falling for these increasingly prevalent scams by being aware of the strategies scammers employ and taking the necessary precautions to confirm and report any suspicious activity.
