Getting Malicious Calls From International Numbers? You Can Lodge Your Complaint At This Official Website

New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has advised citizens regarding malicious calls from international numbers aimed at creating panic and asked them to report such calls to DoT or telecom service providers.

"Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, advises citizens to beware of malicious incoming calls from international numbers claiming to cause disruption in India’s stock exchanges and trading. Such malicious calls are initiated by anti-national elements aimed at creating panic," said a release by Ministry of Communications.

The DoT has directed all the telecom service providers to block malicious calls from such numbers. 

Citizens, on receiving such calls, are advised to report to DoT at help-sancharsaathi[at]gov[dot]in or their telecom service providers.

An IANS report had previously said that the emergence of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT could amplify the threats posed by cybercriminals.

"In today's interconnected digital landscape, the prevalence of cybercrime has reached unprecedented levels, posing significant threats to individuals, businesses, and nations alike. As technology advances, so do the tactics employed by cybercriminals, ranging from sophisticated hacking and ransomware attacks to identity theft and online fraud," IANS had said.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022, cybercrime has reportedly surged by 24.4 percent, totalling 65,893 cases, a significant surge from 52,974 cases in 2021.