The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of India has ordered telecom companies to disable all automatic call-forwarding facilities by April 15. This significant move aims to tackle the fraudulent and criminal activities related to call forwarding scams.
Call forwarding scams is one of the most common scamming techniques used by fraudsters to exploit people. People usually get scammed due to a lack of awareness about such criminal activities. Call-forwarding scams have a huge impact on people who get scammed as scammers exploit their resources and information for personal gain. It leaves an ever-lasting scar on people and may contribute to psychological stress.
What Are Call Forwarding Scams?
Call forwarding scams are used by fraudsters to mask their identity and location. The elimination of the facility will prevent telemarketers from using automated tools to hide their identities. Stopping them from bypassing regulatory restrictions will also enable law enforcement agencies to detect malicious callers. The call-forwarding facilities that will remain functional are initiated by manually keying in USSD codes. The regulator has ordered telecom operators to bar all outgoing call forwarding at the network level if they originate from international gateways.
Call forwarding scams is a useful feature that allows consumers to redirect calls to other numbers if they are busy. Yet, the DoT found many cases where fraudsters were exploiting this system to bypass regulatory checks for making illegal transactions.
Types Of Forwarding
- Unconditional call forwarding: Here, all incoming calls are redirected to another number without going to the primary phone first.
- Conditional call forwarding: Here, all incoming calls are redirected on certain conditions only:
- When the primary phone isn’t answered by anyone.
- If the primary phone line is busy.
- If the primary phone is switched off.
Also read: Is Someone Using A SIM Card In Your Name? Safe Yourself From Potential Risk Of Crime?
How Do Call Forwarding Scams Work?
Call forwarding scams operate by manipulating not only people but mobile network settings:
- Scammers usually start by impersonating a trusted authority or institution such as banks, a company’s customer services agent, or other govt. officials.
- Scammers then ask victims to deal with specific call forwarding codes which gives them access to all incoming calls of that number.
- As call forwarding gets active, scammers can access all incoming calls of a particular number, including OTPs, and then use that sensitive information for personal gain.
Impact of Call Forwarding Scams
Call forwarding scams have a wide range of impacts on people who fall victim to them. Such as:
- Trust issues: People who fall victim to call forwarding scams develop trust issues, especially with friends and families as the scammers sometimes impersonate their loved ones.
- Damaged reputation: Falling victim to call forwarding scams damages one’s reputation.
- Time-consuming recovery: The recovery process of whatever the victims lost is time-consuming and can be stressful for people.
Some Key Misuse Patterns Noticed Recently
Some common ways through which fraudsters commit crimes using call forwarding scams are listed below in detail:
- Circumventing TRAI regulations: Limits on transactional and promotional SMS per day were breached by routing volumes via call-forwarded numbers.
- SIM box frauds: Many SIM cards used to forward international calls are shown as local India calls, bypassing ILD charges. Annual losses are around ₹3000 crores, as per the DoT.
- Phishing attacks: Recipients were tricked into revealing personal or banking details through important-looking messages sent from call-forwarded numbers of reputed brands.
The absence of specific regulations around call forwarding usage security and delays in adopting blockchain-based solutions for traceability and identification enabled such incidents across India.
Also Watch: SIM Swapping
How To Identify Call Forwarding Scams?
People can identify and keep themselves safe against call-forwarding scams through some ways mentioned below:
- If scammers are asking you to dial #401 or any other such call forwarding code.
- Persistent requests or orders for dialling a call forwarding code and calling it.
Preventive Measures Against Call Forwarding Scams
As per the DoT directive to telecom companies, all prepaid and postpaid subscribers will have call forwarding disabled from their phone numbers by telcos by April 15. Certain priority categories, like government officials, corporations, and traders, may keep access if they have already registered with carriers by providing identity documents and usage justifications.
Additionally, operators have been instructed to deactivate all existing permanent call forwarding requests, except for some, such as enterprises and senior citizen customers. The disabled facilities can only be restored once subscribers confirm and validate the request through SMS or other verification methods.
The drastic measures are in response to rising complaints against telemarketing calls and financial fraud from customers. Hundreds of telemarketers were found exploiting call-forwarding to hide identities and bypass regulations.
This blanket disablement will curb misuse while new security protocols are finalised to enable safe reactivation with proper checks. Aadhaar-based approvals and AI/ML screening of call patterns and limits are expected post-re-enablement. This move balances consumer inconvenience against rising security threats from call forwarding exploits that cost the economy.
Also read: TRAI Introduces Amendments In Broadcasting And Cable Service Regulation Framework
How To Deactivate Call Forwarding?
One can deactivate call forwarding by following some simple steps. The steps are mentioned below in detail:
-
To deactivate all call forwarding: Dial ##002# and call the number.
-
Manually
-
Please go to the settings of your phone.
-
Navigate ‘call forwarding’.
-
Click on ‘off’ under ‘call forwarding’.
Shared Responsibility For Secure Digital Growth
The DoT decision was essential to plug gaps and risk exposure to subscribers immediately. Additionally, equitable access to call forwarding requires upgrades rather than permanent suspension given its immense utility for professionals, entrepreneurs, and senior citizens.
India’s maturing digital economy calls for security enhancements aligned with user habits through collaborative efforts between policymakers, telecom carriers, and subscribers. Beyond regulations, citizens also need to report anomalies proactively while adopting safe digital hygiene.
Conclusion
As connectivity expands across India’s diverse demography, balanced regulatory interventions coupled with public participation and localised innovations can drive secure digitization at scale.
While some customers may be inconvenienced by the disabling of automatic call forwarding facilities, the DoT maintains it is necessary to protect users. Call forwarding can still be manually activated by subscribers who genuinely require the feature.
To know more about such government schemes and information, stay connected to Jaagruk Bharat. You can also share your thoughts or ask questions with us by reaching out to our community page.
