The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the Sanchar Saathi portal to empower citizens in combating fraud communications and Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). This innovative platform, accessible through the official website www.sancharsaathi.gov.in, introduces various features aimed at protecting users from fraudulent activities and unwanted commercial messages. Among these features is the Chakshu facility, which enables users to report suspected fraud and UCC incidents. The portal works with telecom service providers to provide fast response towards fraudulent communications.
Sanchar Saathi Portal: Taking a Leap Towards Consumer Protection
The Sanchar Saathi portal is a citizen-centric service designed by the DoT to safeguard the consumer of the telecommunication services against fraudulent activities, such as fraud calls, unsolicited messages, and spoofed communications. The portal has provided many services, wherein citizens can easily raise a complaint on suspicious activities with quick redressals that can tackle fraudulence in an efficient manner.
Main Features of the Sanchar Saathi Portal:
Chakshu Facility:
At the heart of the portal, there’s the Chakshu feature, reporting suspected fraud communications and UCC. As citizens submit these reports with this tool, they become a vital asset in helping DoT take necessary action on malicious activities on mobile connections and handsets and bulk SMS senders, even the account holders and WhatsApp accounts. This scheme is an essential part of the government’s fraud reduction strategy across the telecom industry.
Fraud Communication Response:
The DoT acts immediately based on the reports received. That may include blocking mobile connections, blacklisting mobile handsets, or even suspending WhatsApp accounts involved in fraudulent activity. Acting on such a report ensures that fraudulent actors are dealt with swiftly.
Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC):
The portal also deals with the issue of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), which is always a nuisance for mobile users. It allows citizens to file complaints about unwanted commercial messages. Reports are directly sent to TSPs, who take appropriate action according to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer’s Preference Regulations (TCCCPR-2018).
Joint Efforts to Counter Fraud and UCC
The DoT has collaborated with TSPs to implement several systems and regulations that target fraud prevention and reduce the prevalence of UCC. A significant part of this effort includes the Prevention of Spoofed Incoming International Calls system, which is designed to identify and block international calls that misuse Indian mobile numbers to appear as if they are originating within the country.
Addressing Spoofed Calls:
Spoofed calls, which are international numbers masquerading as local calls, are one of the common strategies adopted by cybercriminals in scams. Such calls may include impersonation as government officials or fake arrests, which have been observed in different FedEx scams or digital arrest frauds. The DoT blocks such calls to prevent citizens from becoming victims of such deception.
Steps taken by TRAI:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented various steps that would further limit UCC and prevent its proliferation. Among the most important actions are the following:
Opt-in Preferences:
Telecom subscribers can now opt to block all commercial communications or selectively block them based on their preferences. This ensures that users can customize their experience based on their needs.
Complaints through Various Means of Communication
TRAI enables the customers to make complaints regarding UCC in multiple ways including mobile application, SMS to the short code 1909, and by making calls on the same number.
Blacklisting of the Offenders:
TRAI possesses provisions to black-list an entity and a telemarketer who violates TCCCPR-2018. They take actions in terms of telecom resources disconnection or imposed fines in the case of a repeated offense.
Financial Incentives:
Telecoms are held liable for UCC spread failure. Access providers are subjected to financial disincentives (FDs) if they are not sufficiently acting.
Impact and Effectiveness
Already, the Sanchar Saathi portal and TRAI’s TCCCPR-2018 have already demonstrated successful results as several actions were taken in relation to the report from the portal such as disconnection of mobile connections, blocking of mobile handsets, and deactivation of WhatsApp accounts that participated in fraud cases. Principal entities and SMS templates that participate in spam were blacklisted for future use.
These measures have clearly portrayed the government’s strong commitment to protecting citizens from telecom fraud and UCC, ensuring a safer digital environment for everyone.
Conclusion
A huge initiative by the Department of Telecommunications to combat telecom fraud and UCC is Sanchar Saathi. The portal provides features such as Chakshu facility and coordination with telecom service providers, helping to protect citizens from unwanted and deceptive communications. As more and more citizens engage with the portal and report suspicious activities, the fight against telecom fraud and spam will continue to build steam, offering a better and safer digital experience.
Refer :
PIB, Link to article
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