TRAI Warns Against Imposters Asking Money For Telecom Tower Installation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started a text messaging campaign to spread awareness among a billion subscribers against the rampant telecom tower installation fraud.

“TRAI does not issue NOC for installation of mobile towers. If a fraudster approach you with such a letter, the matter may be reported to concerned mobile service provider,” the regulator’s SMS read.

Luring into monetary benefits, the fraudsters have been asking premise or land owners for a sum of money on the pretext of obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from TRAI for the deployment of telecom infrastructure.

There have been an increase in the number of cases where people make telephonic queries or simply walk in with such requests directly.

“Such calls (to obtain NOC) have become frequent, and we receive dozens of phone calls and e-mail queries every day, and even people physically make visit seeking a meeting with top officials,” a TRAI employee on conditions of anonymity said.

Last year, the telecom watchdog in a statement asked people to beware of impostors who were issuing fake NOC or permissions for the installation of mobile towers.

In a communication, TRAI earlier said that it was brought to its notice that a few firms, agencies and individuals were fraudulently asking people to deposit money in their account as a tax under the Telecom Act for renting their premises for telecom towers.

The regulator had suggested that victims should take up the matter with local law enforcement agencies, and added that it neither directly nor indirectly involved in any manner to levy fee for leasing out premises for mobile tower deployment or issuing any NOC for it.

―Gadgets Now