Overview

• Airtel has reached out to Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL to collaborate on a Joint Telecom Fraud Initiative aimed at tackling increasing telecom fraud and scams.
• The proposal emphasizes real-time fraud intelligence sharing and cross-network coordination to close gaps exploited by cybercriminals.
• India reported over 1.7 million cybercrime complaints in the first nine months of 2024, leading to financial losses exceeding ₹11,000 crore, highlighting the urgency of collective action.
• Airtel has already deployed AI-powered systems to block malicious URLs and rogue sites but stresses the need for industry-wide collaboration to strengthen consumer protection.
• Airtel Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal plans to directly address customers about the growing risks of phishing and fraud, outlining the company's technological safeguards and industry proposals.