Govt Blocks 1.4 Lakh Mobile Numbers Linked To Financial Frauds

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New Delhi: In a bid to curb digital fraud, the government has taken decisive action by blocking 1.4 lakh mobile numbers associated with financial fraud. Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi chaired a meeting to address cyber security concerns in the financial services sector, focusing on integrating banks and financial institutions into the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) platform.

Integration For Enhanced Security

Discussions during the meeting centered on integrating the CFCFRMS platform with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). ()

This integration aims to centralize the platform, fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies, banks, and financial institutions. Real-time monitoring and preventing fraudulent activities are among the key objectives of this initiative. ()

Transition To Specific Number Series

To streamline communication and combat fraud, banks and financial institutions are mandated to transition from regular 10-digit numbers to specific number series, such as '140xxx,' as prescribed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Government's Technological Initiatives

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has developed the ASTR, an AI-machine learning-based engine, to detect mobile connections obtained through fake or forged documents. As a result, approximately 1.40 lakh mobile handsets linked to disconnected or misused connections have been blocked.

Enforcement Actions And Results

The government's proactive measures have yielded significant results. Over 500 arrests have been made, and around 3.08 lakh SIM cards and 50,000 IMEIs have been blocked since April 2023. Numerous fake links, APKs, and URLs associated with cybercrimes have been blocked.

The meeting emphasized the importance of ensuring round-the-clock availability of resources to address complaints promptly. It also stressed the need for banks and financial institutions to conduct customer awareness programs in regional languages to enhance digital payment security.

Collaborative Efforts

Officials from various departments and organizations, including the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Reserve Bank of India, and National Payments Corporation of India, among others, attended the meeting, highlighting the collaborative effort to combat financial fraud effectively.

(With PTI Inputs)