The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a public advisory on Wednesday, warning against a surge in cyber frauds and financial scams misusing its name. These fraudulent activities involve impersonation of TRAI officials through calls, messages, forged documents, and fraudulent letterheads to deceive individuals into sharing personal information or transferring money, the authority said in a statement.
A prevalent scam highlighted by TRAI is the “digital arrest” fraud, where scammers pose as TRAI or law enforcement officials, falsely accusing individuals of telecom or financial violations or criminal activities. Victims are manipulated with fake legal documents, forged identities, and threats of arrest or account freezing, pressuring them to transfer money for supposed bail, fines, or verification. TRAI clarified that it does not initiate communication with customers regarding mobile number disconnections via messages or authorize third-party agencies for such purposes.
The authority emphasized that no regulatory body conducts investigations or collects payments through phone calls, messaging apps, or video platforms.
Other scams misusing TRAI’s identity include threats of SIM deactivation citing KYC issues, fraudulent offers for mobile tower installations promising high rental income in exchange for upfront fees, and circulation of forged letters or emails using TRAI’s logo to demand money or compliance.
TRAI, established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, regulates telecom and broadcasting services, recommends policy measures, and monitors service quality but does not conduct investigations against individual consumers, request personal details like Aadhaar or bank account information, or issue arrest threats via digital platforms.
The authority urged citizens to disconnect immediately from suspicious or threatening calls, refrain from sharing personal, banking, or identification details, and avoid transferring money in response to unsolicited demands. It advised verifying information through official websites or government helplines and reporting frauds to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. Suspicious numbers can also be flagged via the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi or the TRAI DND app. TRAI particularly called on senior citizens and digitally less-experienced users to remain vigilant and share this advisory widely to prevent such scams.