Airtel cited that over 1.7 million cybercrime complaints reported in the first 9 months of 2024.
The telco seeks collaboration with Jio and Vi to curb scams via a joint initiative.
Airtel has deployed AI tools to block phishing threats and calls.
Airtel has reached out to Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, urging them to join a new telecom scam initiative to curb the rising digital scams, cyber fraud, spam, and phishing attacks. In formal letters to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the telecom company has cited that over 1.7 million cybercrime complaints were filed in the first nine months of 2024, with financial losses of over Rs 11,000 crore. The company has asked its rivals to collaboratively fight against the growing threat of malicious scams targeting individuals.
Scammers use sophisticated tricks, like fake loan offers and phishing links, to deceive users and steal their personal and financial information. These scams are mainly carried out via messaging and social media apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram.
Airtel has already taken independent steps by deploying AI-powered fraud detection systems that can scan and block malicious URLs and phishing websites across channels. It said that the initiative needs unified cooperation from telecom networks to prevent users from phishing scams.
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The new joint initiative will provide real-time fraud intelligence sharing and cross-network coordination among all telecom service providers (TSPs). “Fraudsters are exploiting the lack of coordination between networks. We need to work together to protect our users,” Airtel said in its letter.
Last year, in October 2024, Airtel suggested that all telecom providers share information about commercial calls through a centralized system, similar to the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
Meanwhile, Airtel’s Vice Chairman and MD Gopal Vittal is also expected to reach out to customers directly via messages and emails to warn them against the new wave of scams. He said that this scam looks pretty promising, making customers click on the phishing link. Once clicked, the users may end up losing all their money, said the telco.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
