1.77 crore mobile connections disconnected nationwide, 4.5 million spoof calls blocked

New Delhi| The Center reported that 1.77 crore mobile connections have been disconnected so far using Artificial Intelligence (AI) based devices. Under this, those mobile connections have been disconnected. Fake or fake documents were used in these. Additionally, four Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) have successfully implemented an advanced system. Under this, so far 4.5 million fake international calls have been prevented from entering the Indian telecommunication network.

“The next phase will include a centralized system, which will eliminate the remaining fake calls in all TSPs, it is expected to be operational shortly”, the communications ministry said. The Department of Telecommunications has started an advanced system. Under this, it has been designed to identify and block international fake calls coming before reaching Indian telecom consumers.

This system is being implemented in two phases. The first phase is being implemented at the TSP level. Under this, fake calls coming from the phone numbers of our customers can be stopped. The second phase is being implemented at the central level. Under this, fake calls coming from the phone numbers of customers of other TSPs can be stopped. As part of the crackdown on 1.77 crore mobile connections, the Centre cut 33.48 lakh mobile connections used by cyber criminals in the country’s cyber crime hotspots/districts and blocked 49,930 mobile handsets.

About 77.61 lakh connections with mobile connections exceeding the limit set for one person have been disconnected and 2.29 lakh mobile phones involved in cyber crime or fraudulent activities have been blocked. Of the 21.03 lakh mobile phones stolen/lost, about 12.02 lakh have been traced. At the same time DOT and TSP have cut off about 20,000 entities involved in sending SMS, 32,000 SMS headers and 2 lakh SMS templates.

“Banks and payment wallets have frozen close to 1.1 million accounts that were connected to disconnected mobile connections taken on the basis of fake/forged documents”, the ministry reported

WhatsApp has shut down close to 11 lakh WhatsApp profiles/accounts, which were linked to disconnected mobile connections taken on the basis of fake or forged documents.

The Department of Telecommunications reported that so far 71,000 points of sale (SIM agents) have been blacklisted and 365 FIRs have been registered in several states and union territories.