Crime & Investigation
Government Warning: Beware of Scam Calls from These Numbers
With digital access increasing, cyber fraud cases involving scam phone calls have exploded in India. What used to be limited to phishing emails has now shifted to more sophisticated voice call tactics. The government, through the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and TRAI, has issued an urgent public advisory.
The calls, often from international VoIP numbers like +697, +698, and even +77 or +84, attempt to extract personal, financial, or biometric details under various pretexts.
How These Scam Calls Work
The scam typically unfolds in one of these ways:
- Fake Government Threats: You receive a call claiming to be from DoT, CBI, or police. They say your mobile number is linked to a crime or misuse.
- SIM Deactivation Hoax: A robotic voice says your SIM will be deactivated in 24 hours unless you take urgent action.
- Bank & Loan Fraud: Impersonators ask you to verify PAN or Aadhaar for a pending EMI or tax refund.
- One-Ring Scam: Your phone rings once from a suspicious number. If you call back, you’re charged premium international fees.
- Voice Deepfake: A recent trend uses AI-generated voices to impersonate family members or government officers.
Full List of Suspect Number Prefixes
Avoid calls or messages from the following number types:
| Prefix | Common Usage | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| +697 | VoIP Calls | 🚨🚨🚨 High |
| +698 | VoIP Calls | 🚨🚨🚨 High |
| +77 / +84 / +85 / +89 | International scammers | 🚨🚨 High |
| 160XXXXXXX | Spoofed Govt. Series | ⚠️ Medium |
| Private/Unknown ID | Masked Caller | 🚨 High |
What Experts Say
These calls are not just annoying—they’re potentially devastating. With the rise of financial apps and biometric data, one wrong step can wipe out an entire bank account,” warns Ritesh Bhatia, a leading cybersecurity expert.
He emphasizes using government tools like Sanchar Saathi and 1930 helpline immediately after suspected fraud attempts.
Tools You Can Use
Report & Protect:
- Sanchar Saathi (sancharsaathi.gov.in) → Report fraud calls, SMS, and unknown SIMs in your name.
- 1930 → Government helpline for cyber fraud.
- cybercrime.gov.in → File formal digital crime complaints.
- TRAI DND 2.0 App → Report spam/SMS in real-time.
- WhatsApp Settings → Enable “Silent Unknown Callers” to avoid spam.
Case Studies
- Case 1 (Mumbai, 2024): A 46-year-old received a call claiming to be from TRAI and lost ₹3.2 lakhs in a UPI phishing scam.
- Case 2 (Gurgaon, 2025): Caller posed as DoT officer, threatened legal action, demanded Aadhaar. Victim flagged it via Sanchar Saathi and was saved just in time.