TRAI Issues Advisory on Fraudulent Activities Misusing TRAI’s Name

TRAI Issues Advisory on Fraudulent Activities Misusing TRAI’s Name

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued an advisory cautioning the public about a rise in cyber frauds and financial scams involving misuse of TRAI’s name. These include impersonation of TRAI officials through calls, messages, forged documents, and fraudulent letterheads to threaten or mislead individuals and coerce them into sharing personal information or transferring money. Any such outreach allegedly in the name of TRAI is unauthorised and not associated with TRAI.

Emerging Scams Misusing TRAI’s Name

A prominent example is the so-called ‘digital arrest’ scam, where callers impersonate TRAI or law enforcement officials and falsely accuse individuals of telecom or financial violations or criminal actions. Victims are manipulated through fake legal documents, forged identities, and threats of arrest or account freezing, and are coerced to transfer money under the pretext of bail, fines, or verification.

TRAI reiterates that it does not initiate communication with customers regarding mobile number disconnection through messages or otherwise. TRAI has also not authorized any third-party agency to contact customers for such purposes. No regulatory body conducts investigations or collects payments through phone calls, messaging apps, or video platforms.

Other frauds misusing TRAI’s identity include:

TRAI Clarification

TRAI is an independent statutory authority established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. It regulates telecom and broadcasting services, recommends policy measures to the Government, and monitors service quality.

TRAI does not:

Public Advisory

Citizens are advised to:

TRAI urges all citizens—especially senior citizens and digitally less-experienced users – to stay vigilant and share this information widely. Early awareness and timely reporting are critical in preventing such frauds.

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