In a bold move against digital fraudsters, India’s telecom authorities have made identifying rogue mobile numbers a breeze with the new Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI). Dr. Chandrashekar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications, shared these updates in a written Lok Sabha reply.
This cutting-edge system categorizes numbers based on fraud risk levels—medium to very high—enabling financial institutions like banks and UPI platforms to analyze and act on suspicious links proactively.
The impact is staggering: over ₹1,000 crore in potential fraud losses averted, thanks to blocked transactions and proactive notifications to users. It’s a testament to data-driven defense in the cyber realm.
The Department’s arsenal extends further with the user-friendly Sanchaar Saathi platform, accessible via web and mobile. Citizens can now report scam calls, check personal connections, flag stolen devices, and verify handset authenticity effortlessly.
Key achievements include retrieving 8.33 lakh misplaced phones, terminating 2.24 crore unwanted connections, and shutting down 39.44 lakh numbers following 7.7 lakh fraud reports. Moreover, an advanced spoofing detection mechanism has nearly eliminated fake international calls posing as local ones, reducing incidents by 99%.
As cyber threats evolve, these integrated strategies are fortifying India’s telecom landscape, ensuring citizens can transact securely without fear.