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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is suo motu blocking overseas and local phone numbers. According to a report in Economic Times, DoT has blocked calls of fraudsters and anti-national elements who are said to be using these numbers to commit cybercrimes and issue threats. The telecom department has reportedly blocked these calls without waiting for approval from either the Intelligence Bureau (IB) or the police.The purpose is that while criminal investigations by security agencies will continue, miscreants won’t be allowed to misuse telecom resources, the officials said.
The numbers have reportedly been blocked based on complaints for such calls. “In the last three-four days, over 1,500 callers, including international numbers, have been blocked by the government after checking the credentials of such calls from telecom operators,” said one of the officials quoted in the report.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and more on the block list
Prominent names among the blocked callers include designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun has been threatening to target the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), as well as Air India.
The official said that the numbers from which the calls were received were blocked after checking the details from telecom operators and international gateways. The DoT is also said to be verifying international gateways for details about such callers.
The government has instructed telcos that in case their customer care centres receive calls from users about such calls, these should be reported to the department.
e-SIM apps blocked by Apple and Google on government order
Recently, the DoT directed Google, Apple, telecom operators and internet service providers to block two eSIM apps – Airalo and Holafly. Officials said that these apps have reportedly been removed after it was found that fraudsters use unauthorised eSIMs with international phone numbers to commit cybercrimes.
The government recently has made SIM rules stringent. It has made it mandatory for telecom companies to require registration of franchisees, point of sale (PoS) agents and distributors to give new SIMs. The aim is to identify rogue entities issuing SIMs to anti-social and anti-national elements.
The numbers have reportedly been blocked based on complaints for such calls. “In the last three-four days, over 1,500 callers, including international numbers, have been blocked by the government after checking the credentials of such calls from telecom operators,” said one of the officials quoted in the report.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and more on the block list
Prominent names among the blocked callers include designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun has been threatening to target the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), as well as Air India.
The official said that the numbers from which the calls were received were blocked after checking the details from telecom operators and international gateways. The DoT is also said to be verifying international gateways for details about such callers.
The government has instructed telcos that in case their customer care centres receive calls from users about such calls, these should be reported to the department.
e-SIM apps blocked by Apple and Google on government order
Recently, the DoT directed Google, Apple, telecom operators and internet service providers to block two eSIM apps – Airalo and Holafly. Officials said that these apps have reportedly been removed after it was found that fraudsters use unauthorised eSIMs with international phone numbers to commit cybercrimes.
The government recently has made SIM rules stringent. It has made it mandatory for telecom companies to require registration of franchisees, point of sale (PoS) agents and distributors to give new SIMs. The aim is to identify rogue entities issuing SIMs to anti-social and anti-national elements.
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