Scam alert: Ignore calls and messages from these four numbers, warns government

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In the digital world, cyber criminals are trying new tricks every day to cheat. If you use a smartphone, then this news is very important for you. The Indian government has recently issued an advisory advising mobile users to be cautious about calls and messages coming from certain numbers. The government has warned that messages coming from these numbers may contain links containing dangerous malware (virus). Even a single wrong click can inject a virus into your phone, which poses a risk of your personal data being stolen and your bank account being emptied.

The government agency, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), has specifically warned people about a series of four numbers. According to the agency, if you see numbers starting with +92, +855, +86, or +880 on your phone screen, ignore them immediately. Of these, +92 is Pakistan's ISD code. Cybercriminals use these codes to trap people by contacting them on WhatsApp or other messaging apps. Meanwhile, numbers like +855, +86, and +880 are VoIP (virtual numbers generated from the internet). Tracking these numbers is extremely difficult for police and agencies, which is why hackers are using them extensively.

Nowadays, all banking and UPI apps are present in our smartphones, so if hackers gain remote access to the phone, they can commit major financial fraud. These criminals often rely on VPNs, or virtual networks, which make it difficult to trace their location. The government has clarified that such international numbers are mostly being used for fraud.

The government advises that if you receive a call or message from any such suspicious number, do not receive it or click on any links. For safety reasons, immediately report such numbers to the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi Portal or app. Additionally, you can also register your complaint by calling the Cyber Crime Department's helpline number 1930 to avoid serious trouble in time.