DoT allocates new number series to curb online fraud
The Department of Telecommunications of the Government of India has started a separate series of 10 digits numbers for service and transaction related phone calls made by government offices, regulators and financial institutions like banks. This series starts with the number 160. An order regarding this was issued on Tuesday. The Department of Telecommunications has created the 10 digit number series in such a way that you can know which department (government office, rule maker, or bank) the call is coming from. Along with this, it will also be known which telecom company’s SIM is being used and from which city or area the call has been made.
Phone calls can be identified separately
The official note said that under the ‘Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCPR) 2018’, it has been decided to give a special 10 digit number series starting with 160 only for service and transaction related phone calls. ‘The new number system is being introduced so that you can differentiate between genuine phone calls from government offices, law makers and organisations like banks, from those who are trying to deceive you by claiming to be government officials.’
