Government says AI helped it remove crores of fake mobile numbers, block international spam calls

The Ministry of Communications said it removed 1.77 crore mobile connections obtained using fake or forged documents and blocked international spam calls using artificial intelligence-based tools. The Department of Telecom has developed an AI-based advanced system in collaboration with various telecom service providers (TSPs) to mitigate the spread of spoofed calls. The Ministry said it has managed to block over 45 lakh calls.

New centralised system

Dot’s new centralised system works in two ways. The first allows the government to check telecom operators and prevent call spoofing from a subscriber’s number. The second phase of the system’s implementation involves blocking spoofed calls from mobile numbers of other TSPs. While the first phase is currently being rolled out, the second phase will likely be commissioned soon as DoT seeks to ensure tighter security across telecom networks.

Removal of mobile connections

According to the government, roughly 33.48 lakh mobile connections and 49,930 mobile handsets have been disconnected from the system. The Ministry said these mobile connections and handsets belonged to cybercriminals from various hotspots across the country. It said 77.61 lakh mobile connections that exceeded an individual’s prescribed limit for mobile connections have also been disconnected using the AI-based system. Other 2.29 lakh handsets involved in fraud have also been blocked.

The DoT said it managed to retrieve 12.02 lakh of 21.03 lakh reported lost or stolen handsets. It said banks and payment wallets have frozen over 11 lakh accounts linked to fake connections. The Ministry has also added roughly 71,000 Point of Sale, also known as SIM card agents, to the blacklist for issuing fake SIM cards. It said first information reports (FIRs) against 365 of these agents have also been filed across states and union territories. The crackdown also involves the disconnection of roughly 20,000 mobile number owners for sending spam and malicious SMS.

The Ministry said it plans to integrate AI-based solutions even deeper to curb cybercrime and bolster the telecom infrastructure.