TRAI offers warning regarding deceptive practices falsely claiming association with its brand
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued an advisory about a surge in cyber frauds and financial scams that are misusing the authority's name in India. The most common scams involve impersonation, "digital arrest" extortion, SIM deactivation threats, fake mobile tower investment schemes, and forged TRAI documents used to demand money or personal data.
In these scams, scammers often impersonate TRAI officials using forged IDs, caller IDs, or letterheads to instil fear or coerce victims into sharing information or making payments. One prominent example is the "digital arrest" scam, where callers impersonate TRAI or law enforcement officials, threatening victims with arrest or account freezing, and demanding immediate payments for "bail," "fines," or "verification."
TRAI clarifies that it does not initiate communications with customers regarding mobile number disconnection through messages or otherwise. The authority has not authorized any third-party agency to contact customers for such purposes. No regulatory body conducts investigations or collects payments through phone calls, messaging apps, or video platforms.
TRAI also warns about fake mobile tower rental offers that require upfront fees or "processing" payments. The authority encourages the public to report cyber frauds via the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or the www.cybercrime.gov.in government cybercrime portal.
If targeted, TRAI advises not to share personal, Aadhaar, OTP, or bank details, and not to transfer money on demand. Instead, hang up and verify independently by contacting your service provider or local police, rather than using numbers or calls supplied by the caller. Additionally, report the incident to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or the government cybercrime portal and flag suspicious numbers through Sanchar Saathi / TRAI DND tools, as advised by TRAI.
TRAI urges the public to be vigilant and disconnect suspicious calls. Any outreach allegedly in the name of TRAI is unauthorized and not associated with TRAI. Always verify messages through official sources before taking any action.
- In the context of the surge in cyber frauds, TRAI advises the public to be wary of fake mobile tower rental offers requiring upfront fees or "processing" payments, as these are classified under general news and potential policy-and-legislation changes regarding business.
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has noticed a rise in scams using its name, including the "digital arrest" scam where scammers impersonate TRAI or law enforcement officials, making this matter a significant topic under crime-and-justice news.
- TRAI encourages citizens to exercise caution and report cyber frauds, such as impersonation scams or extortion attempts, to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or the government cybercrime portal, which is a notable example of politics and policy-and-legislation shaping everyday life and public safety.
