Govt Cracks Down On Electricity KYC Scam, Blocks 392 Mobile Handsets

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New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Indian government’s Ministry of Communications, has taken stringent action to tackle an electricity KYC update scam.

DoT has directed all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for pan-India International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based blocking of 392 mobile handsets which were being misused in cybercrime and financial frauds.

DoT also directed TSPs to re-verify 31,740 mobile connections linked to these handsets. Failure in re-verification will lead to immediate disconnection of reported numbers and blocking of associated handsets, Ministry of Communications said in a press release.

“Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has initiated targeted actions to protect citizens in response to reports of fraudulent activities involving mobile numbers in electricity KYC update scams,” the ministry stated.

Vigilant and alert citizens have been reporting suspected fraud communications via the ‘Chakshu-Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal of DoT.

“This helps the DoT in combating and preventing cybercrimes and financial frauds,” the ministry said.

According to the complaints, fraudsters used SMS and WhatsApp messages, related to electricity KYC updates and malicious APK files, to manipulate and gain control of victims’ devices.

The DoT initially identified 5 suspect numbers. The portal’s AI-driven analysis revealed 392 handsets linked to 31,740 mobile numbers being involved in such fraudulent activities.