India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is proposing new cybersecurity rules aimed at tackling the growing misuse of mobile numbers in digital fraud. According to a draft of the amended Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, the DoT plans to introduce a Mobile Number Validation (MNV) platform to allow authorised entities such as telecom providers, banks, and ecommerce platforms to verify the authenticity of user mobile numbers.
Entities would be able to access this platform by paying a nominal fee — ₹1.5 per request when prompted by a government agency, or ₹3 per request otherwise. The verification system would confirm whether the mobile number matches the user information in the official telecom database, potentially reducing fraud in transactions, loan approvals, and identity verification.
Sharp rise in digital arrest and identity scams
The move comes in response to an alarming spike in digital fraud cases. In 2024 alone, Indians lost ₹1,935.51 crore to digital arrest scams — a fraud tactic where criminals impersonate government agencies to coerce victims. Over 1.23 lakh complaints were filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
In the first two months of 2025, nearly 17,718 new digital arrest scams were reported, signalling that fraudsters are evolving faster than existing safeguards. To address this, the DoT has also disconnected over 1 crore fraudulent mobile connections since last year. Over 2.27 lakh handsets linked to cybercrime were blocked.
Also read: India Lost ₹22,812 Crore to Cyber Fraud in 2024
Government expands anti-fraud ecosystem
The MNV initiative complements other recent efforts such as the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and Chakshu, two tools launched to improve fraud detection and public reporting. DIP allows real-time intelligence sharing between telecom players and enforcement agencies, while Chakshu empowers citizens to report suspicious calls, SMSes, or WhatsApp messages related to fake KYC requests and financial scams.
Private telecom operators are also stepping up. Airtel, for instance, launched an AI-powered fraud detection system in late 2023, which has already safeguarded over 3.5 million users in Delhi.
The proposed amendments signal a shift toward collaborative fraud prevention — where telecom, banking, and tech sectors play an active role in verifying users and securing digital transactions. With fraud tactics becoming increasingly sophisticated, DoT’s policy could become a critical part of India’s digital security infrastructure.
