Has TRAI Issued an Advisory on Fraudulent Activities Misusing Its Name?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- TRAI has issued a warning about rising cyber frauds.
- Scammers are impersonating TRAI officials.
- Victims are coerced into sharing personal information.
- TRAI does not contact individuals about disconnections.
- Always verify the authenticity of communications.
New Delhi, Aug 6 (NationPress) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently issued a warning aimed at the public, highlighting an alarming increase in cyber fraud and financial scams that exploit its name.
As stated by the authority, these fraudulent activities include impersonating TRAI officials via calls, text messages, counterfeit documents, and forged letterheads. The aim is to intimidate or mislead victims into divulging personal information or transferring funds.
"Any communication that claims to be from TRAI is unauthorized and not affiliated with our organization," the authority clarified.
One notable scam that has emerged involves the so-called ‘digital arrest’ scheme, where callers pose as TRAI or law enforcement agents, falsely accusing individuals of violations related to telecom services or financial misconduct.
The TRAI noted that victims are often manipulated with fake legal documents, altered identities, and threats of arrest or account suspension, coercing them into transferring money under the guise of bail, fines, or verification processes.
Reaffirming its non-involvement in any fraudulent activities, the authority emphasized that it does not reach out to customers regarding mobile number disconnections through messages or any other means.
Furthermore, the TRAI has not delegated any third-party organizations to communicate with customers for such reasons, and no representatives from the regulatory body conduct investigations or collect payments via phone calls, messaging applications, or video calls, it reiterated.
Fraudulent claims regarding SIM deactivation, registration fees for tower installations, and counterfeit emails featuring the TRAI logo are all tactics that misappropriate the TRAI's identity, according to the regulatory body.