“Saavdhaan Agar Aapko Anjane Number Se…”: DoT orders Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone to play cybercrime warning caller tunes 8–10 times daily
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a directive to major telecom service providers, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, to implement cybercrime awareness messages as caller tunes. This initiative, set to run for the next three months, aims to educate subscribers about the increasing risks of cyber fraud.
Caller Tunes to Warn Against Cyber Threats
Under the initiative, subscribers will hear a pre-call announcement or ringback tone featuring a cybercrime warning up to 8–10 times daily. A commonly played warning starts with:
“Saavdhaan!!! Agar aapko anjane number se police judge ya CBI ke call aate hai…”
The caller tunes are provided by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), with new messages to be introduced weekly. Telecom operators have been instructed to implement these directives immediately.
Stay aware, stay safe. pic.twitter.com/sPY0nDUhhZ
— DoT India (@DoT_India) December 23, 2024
Combatting Cybercrime Through Awareness
This move comes as India faces a rise in sophisticated scams like the “digital arrest” fraud, where impersonators pose as law enforcement officers or judges to extort money from victims. To curb such crimes, the government and telecom providers are also taking steps to block international calls spoofed to appear as Indian numbers.
As part of a broader crackdown, the government recently blocked over 6.69 lakh fraudulent SIM cards and 1.32 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers linked to reported cybercrimes.
The DoT has also been actively spreading awareness on social media. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the department urged citizens to “Stay aware, stay safe.”
Strengthening Cybersecurity Measures
By mandating cybercrime awareness caller tunes and addressing fraudulent telecom activities, the government is reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding citizens from digital threats. The three-month initiative aims to make cyber awareness a routine part of communication for millions of Indian subscribers.
