Spam calls down 99%, crores in fraud blocked: Inside India's massive digital safety push

NEW DELHI: The government has prevented nearly Rs 6,500 crore worth of financial fraud and cut daily spam calls by 99% from around 3.5 crore earlier.A key step in preventing financial fraud has been the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), which the Reserve Bank of India has made mandatory for all financial institutions. The system has flagged crores of bank accounts, helping banks identify suspicious activity and stop fraudulent transactions before they happen.Government sources cited by ANI said that nearly Rs 6,500 crore worth of fraud has been prevented through the use of this indicator.The government is also bringing banks, telecom companies and law enforcement agencies together to tackle digital fraud. The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which connects these groups, now has around 1,600-1,800 stakeholders on board. These include banks, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), telecom operators and financial institutions.On the telecom front, daily spam calls have dropped by 99% from around 3.5 crore earlier. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also disconnected around 55-56 lakh mobile numbers under its Sanchar Saathi initiative to tackle spam calls and telecom-related fraud.Another measure is Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), which is now in place for all 4G and above subscribers. It allows mobile users to see the caller's name when they receive a call, helping them identify who is calling.Officials said protecting customers from cyber threats remains a key responsibility of the telecom sector. "On cyber security and securing the interests of our customers, we are front line.The Sanchar Saathi initiative has also received a strong response from citizens. Its portal has recorded nearly 35 crore hits, while the mobile application has been downloaded around 3.5 to 4 crore times.The government has said that protecting telecom users and improving cyber security will remain key priorities. "We will not compromise on that."The steps include cutting down spam calls, disconnecting mobile numbers, helping people identify callers and working with banks and law enforcement agencies to prevent financial fraud.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.