Government Allots New '160' Number Series To Combat Fraud Calls

To tackle the rising problem of phone call fraud , the Centre has introduced a unique 10-digit number series to help users identify legitimate calls from government entities, regulatory authorities, and financial institutions. According to media reports, the Department of Telecom ( DoT ) has designated the '160' prefix for these numbers.

New Numbering Series for Service and Transactional Calls

The government has launched the '160xxxxxxx' series specifically for service and transactional calls. This initiative aims to help citizens easily recognize authentic calls, thereby reducing the number of unwanted calls from telemarketers who use standard 10-digit mobile numbers. Currently, the '140xxxxxxx' series is assigned to telemarketers for promotional, service, and transactional calls.

Helping Users Distinguish Between Authentic and Fraudulent Calls

The DoT noted that the '140xx' series is widely associated with promotional calls, leading many consumers to ignore them and miss important service or transactional communications. To address this, the DoT has allocated the '160' series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls, in accordance with the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR) 2018.

Financial institutions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) will also use a similar number format with the '160' prefix, albeit with slight modifications.

Verification and Reporting of Fraudulent Communications

Telecom service providers (TSPs) are required to thoroughly verify each entity before assigning a number from the '160' series. These numbers must be used exclusively for service or transactional calls. If users suspect fraudulent communications, they can report them through the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in).

Telecom Market Statistics

As of February 2024, India has a total of 1.19 billion telecom subscribers, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Reliance Jio leads the market with a 52.2 percent share.