Call forwarding scam: Telecom Dept warns against rising cyber frauds — Check how scamsters operate and how to stay safe

Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, has on Monday taken a pro-active drive to prevent malicious incoming calls and safeguarding cyber crimes and frauds. The department has advised citizen to beware of receiving malicious incoming calls asking them to dial *401# followed by some unknown mobile number.

What happens during call forwarding scam?

Dialling *401# followed by some unknown mobile number activates unconditional call forwarding received on mobile of citizen to the unknown mobile number. 

This allows fraudster to receive all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.

Call forwarding scam: How scamsters operate 

The telecom department has explained how the scamsters operate and their Modus Operandi — 

a) The fraudster calls the telecom subscriber and pretends to be a customer service representative or technical support staff from their telecom service provider.

b) The fraudster states that either there is a problem with their SIM card or there is some issue related to network or service quality and they need to dial a specific code to fix the problem. 

c) This code usually starts with *401# followed by a mobile number.

d) After doing so unconditional call forwarding is activated on their mobile number and all incoming calls etc. are forwarded to the fraudster's mobile number.

e) The fraudster then receives all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.
 
In this regard, the telecom department has been actively informing all users.

Call forwarding scam: How to protect yourself

i) The telecom service providers never ask their subscribers to dial *401#. 

ii) Users can check their mobile phone settings for call forwarding and disable immediately in case it is enabled. 

iii) The telecom department has advised that individuals use the facility only when it is required.