In a major step taken towards the digital safety and security of citizens of India the telecom department of India has shut down 1.77 crore mobile numbers which were being used for money related frauds. We have all received fake and spam messages or calls and some of us have even been victims of financial fraud. Therefore there was a pressing need to introduce measures to ensure the safety of India’s digital citizens. Along with the blocking of the sim cards 14 to 15 lakh stolen mobile numbers have also been shut down to enhance the safety protocols. Indian telecom subscribers should see a significant reduction in such spoofed calls with +91 numbers with implementation of this system. Cyber criminals have been committing crimes by making international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers (+91). These calls appear to be originating within India but are actually being made from abroad by manipulating the calling line identity (CLI) or commonly known as phone number. New spam tracking system for international calls Earlier this in year in October the government announced a new spam-tracking system to identify and block incoming international calls posing as Indian phone numbers. The system was made operational and within 24 hours of operation about 1.35 crore or 90 per cent from all the incoming international calls with Indian phone numbers were identified as spoofed calls and blocked by telecom service providers (TSPs) from reaching Indian telecom subscribers. Launching the ‘International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System’ Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia said this is another government effort towards building a safe digital space and protecting citizens from cyber-crime. The Department of Communications (DoT) and TSPs have collaborated and devised a system to identify and block such incoming international spoofed calls from reaching the Indian telecom subscribers. “Despite such best efforts there could be cases where fraudsters succeed through other means. For such calls you can help by reporting such suspected fraud communications at Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi” said the government. This is another step by DoT to protect citizens from cyber frauds as the system identifies and blocks the incoming international calls. (With inputs from agencies)