The Department of Telecommunication (DoT), under the Ministry of Communication, has warned citizens about WhatsApp calls that people are receiving claiming to be from DoT. According to the advisory, callers impersonating the telecom departments are threatening mobile users. These cyber criminals are threatening innocent citizens that their numbers will be “disconnected or their numbers are being misused in some illegal activities”.
The DoT has also issued advisory about WhatsApp calls from foreign origin mobile numbers (like +92-xxxxxxxxxx) impersonating government officials and duping people.
What are these calls about
According to the government advisory, scammers try to get personal information by threatening people via these calls to carry out financial fraud. The Telecom department has clarified that “DoT does not authorise anyone to make such calls on its behalf and has advised people to stay vigilant and asked not to share any information on receiving such calls”.
DoT has advised people to report such fraud calls on its ‘Chakshu-Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility of the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in).
DoT has also asked people to check the mobile connections registered in their name at the Know Your Mobile Connections facility of Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) and report any mobile connection that does not belong to them.
Additionally, users can also report such calls or communications via the cyber-crime helpline number 1920 or www.cybercrime.gov.in in case they become a victim of cyber-crime or financial fraud.
How to report such calls via WhatsApp
While the government has made enough provisions for users to report a fraudulent call or message. WhatsApp also offers a couple of features that can prevent users from receiving such calls.
The instant messaging app allows users to ‘silent unknown calls’ which means, if a phone number isn’t saved in their phone, the calls won’t ring. Apart from that, users also have the option to block a particular number on WhatsApp.
Do note that these options do not actually prevent spam calls on the platform. However, they can come-in handy in case of repeated spam calls.
The DoT has also issued advisory about WhatsApp calls from foreign origin mobile numbers (like +92-xxxxxxxxxx) impersonating government officials and duping people.
What are these calls about
According to the government advisory, scammers try to get personal information by threatening people via these calls to carry out financial fraud. The Telecom department has clarified that “DoT does not authorise anyone to make such calls on its behalf and has advised people to stay vigilant and asked not to share any information on receiving such calls”.
DoT has advised people to report such fraud calls on its ‘Chakshu-Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility of the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in).
DoT has also asked people to check the mobile connections registered in their name at the Know Your Mobile Connections facility of Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) and report any mobile connection that does not belong to them.
Additionally, users can also report such calls or communications via the cyber-crime helpline number 1920 or www.cybercrime.gov.in in case they become a victim of cyber-crime or financial fraud.
How to report such calls via WhatsApp
While the government has made enough provisions for users to report a fraudulent call or message. WhatsApp also offers a couple of features that can prevent users from receiving such calls.
The instant messaging app allows users to ‘silent unknown calls’ which means, if a phone number isn’t saved in their phone, the calls won’t ring. Apart from that, users also have the option to block a particular number on WhatsApp.
Do note that these options do not actually prevent spam calls on the platform. However, they can come-in handy in case of repeated spam calls.