News

Indian Government Introduces ‘160’ Number Series to Combat Spam Call Fraud

• ByStartupStory     |    August 12, 2024

In a major move to curb the growing threat of spam call frauds, the Indian government has unveiled a new ‘160’ number series dedicated to transactional and service voice calls. This initiative, aimed at safeguarding citizens against fraudulent calls, ensures that all calls from financial entities such as banks, investment firms, and insurance companies will now be identifiable with the ‘160’ prefix. The introduction of this new series is expected to significantly reduce the risk of citizens falling prey to scam calls.

Collaborative Effort for Financial Safety

The ‘160’ number series initiative is a collaborative effort between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and key financial regulatory bodies, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). All telecom service providers (TSPs) are also actively participating in this effort, ensuring a smooth and widespread implementation.

Phased Implementation with Wider Coverage Planned

The implementation of the ‘160’ series will occur in phases, with the initial rollout focusing on entities regulated by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Following this, the system is set to expand, covering all government, private, and global banks, members of the Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI), and all telecom service providers.

Beyond the ‘160’ Series: Additional Measures

In addition to the introduction of the ‘160’ series, the government is taking further steps to tackle spam calls. The existing ‘140’ series, currently used for promotional calls, will be migrated to a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform. This migration, along with the implementation of the ‘scrubbing of digital consent’ process, aims to provide better regulation and filtering of unsolicited calls.

Empowering Citizens with Informed Choices

The introduction of the ‘160’ prefix is designed to empower citizens, making it easier for them to identify legitimate calls from their banks or investment firms. This measure is expected to reduce the risk of individuals falling victim to fraudulent activities, thereby enhancing the overall safety of financial communications.

A Step Towards a Safer Financial Landscape

The ‘160’ number series is a positive step toward creating a safer communication environment for all individuals involved in financial transactions. Combined with ongoing efforts to combat spam calls, this initiative represents a strong commitment to protecting the financial well-being of the Indian populace.

The introduction of this new system is a significant development in the fight against spam call frauds, and the government is urging citizens to stay informed and take advantage of these new protections.

Follow Startup Story