The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a crucial warning that carries serious implications for mobile users across the country. The regulatory body is cautioning individuals about a rising trend of scam messages and calls that claim to be from ‘government officials’ or appear as unidentified numbers, requesting mobile number verification or completion of Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.
If you have received any communication urging you to verify your mobile number through a specific URL or by calling a designated number to avoid potential disconnection, be wary. TRAI has officially advised users not to respond to such messages and has categorically stated that it never sends messages or makes calls for verification, disconnection, or reporting unlawful activities related to mobile numbers.
In a communication released on mobile phones, TRAI emphasized, “Beware of such messages/calls in the name of TRAI. Any call or message claiming to be from TRAI should be considered potentially fraudulent.”
Users who have encountered such messages or calls are urged to report the incidents promptly. TRAI recommends reporting potential scams to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or contacting the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
Last year, V Raghunandan, the Secretary of TRAI, highlighted that the regulator is well aware of fraudsters exploiting unsuspecting users. These scammers often deceive individuals by falsely claiming that their Aadhaar numbers were used for obtaining SIM cards linked to illegal activities. Raghunandan also mentioned that fraudsters attempt to manipulate users into joining Skype video calls to purportedly prevent the disconnection of their mobile numbers. Importantly, TRAI has not authorized any agency to contact customers for such activities.
