Govt warns users over fake ‘international’ calls showing +91 code

The telecom department has flagged a rising scam where fraudsters spoof international calls to appear with India’s +91 code, urging users to stay cautious, avoid sharing sensitive details and report suspicious numbers immediately through official platforms.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a fresh warning to mobile users about a growing scam involving fake international calls that falsely display India’s +91 country code.

In an advisory shared on social media platform X, the department alerted citizens that cybercriminals are increasingly using advanced caller identity manipulation techniques to deceive users and extract sensitive personal information.

The DoT clarified that legitimate international calls always display the correct country code of the originating nation. Any call claiming to be from abroad but showing the +91 prefix should be treated as suspicious and reported immediately.

Rising use of caller ID spoofing

Officials explained that fraudsters are using caller ID spoofing technology to disguise their real numbers and make calls appear legitimate. These callers often impersonate telecom officials, police officers, bank representatives, or customer service agents to build trust and pressure victims.

In many cases, users are threatened with consequences such as SIM card blocking, fake legal action, unpaid bills, or parcel delivery issues. The aim is to create urgency and panic, prompting individuals to disclose confidential details like OTPs, ATM PINs, passwords, or identity-related information such as Aadhaar numbers.

Authorities have emphasized that these tactics are designed to exploit fear and confusion, making users more likely to comply without verifying the caller’s identity.

Public advisory and safety measures

The telecom department has urged citizens not to share personal or financial information over phone calls or respond to suspicious messages and links. Users are also advised not to return missed calls from unknown international-looking numbers.

Earlier, telecom operators and cybercrime agencies had also issued similar warnings about premium-rate scams and fake verification calls targeting mobile users across the country.

The DoT reiterated that no genuine international call can display India’s +91 code unless it originates from a domestic number. Users have been encouraged to independently verify unknown callers before engaging in any conversation or sharing data.

To strengthen reporting and response, the government has advised citizens to flag suspicious numbers through the Sanchar Saathi platform, which is designed to track and curb telecom fraud.

Cybersecurity experts note that awareness and caution remain the most effective defenses against such scams, especially as spoofing technologies continue to evolve and become harder to detect.