DoT launches initiative to combat malicious calls and cybercrimes

Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, has on Monday taken a pro-active drive to prevent malicious incoming calls and safeguarding cyber crimes and frauds. The department has advised citizen to beware of receiving malicious incoming calls asking them to dial *401# followed by some unknown mobile number.

What happens during call forwarding scam?
Dialling *401# followed by some unknown mobile number activates unconditional call forwarding received on mobile of citizen to the unknown mobile number.

Call forwarding scam: How scamsters operate
The telecom department has explained how the scamsters operate and their Modus Operandi.

• The fraudster calls the telecom subscriber and pretends to be a customer service representative or technical support staff from their telecom service provider.
• The fraudster states that either there is a problem with their SIM card or there is some issue related to network or service quality and they need to dial a specific code to fix the problem.
• This code usually starts with *401# followed by a mobile number.
• After doing so unconditional call forwarding is activated on their mobile number and all incoming calls etc. are forwarded to the fraudster’s mobile number.
• The fraudster then receives all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.

In this regard, the telecom department has been actively informing all users.

Call forwarding scam: How to protect yourself

• The telecom service providers never ask their subscribers to dial *401#.
• Users can check their mobile phone settings for call forwarding and disable immediately in case it is enabled.
• The telecom department has advised that individuals use the facility only when it is required.

Zeebiz