The Centre on Thursday introduced a new numbering series, 160xxxxxxx, for making service or transactional calls, to help citizens easily identify legitimate calls and curb unsolicited voice calls from telemarketers using 10-digit mobile numbers.
Currently, 140xxxxxxx series has been allocated to telemarketers for making promotional/service/transactional voice calls.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said in a statement that since the 140xx series is being used extensively for promotional calls, "consumers normally do not respond to such calls, and many important service/transactional calls are missed".
"This has resulted in the wide use of regular 10-digit numbers by genuine entities for making service/transactional calls. This also gave opportunity to fraudsters to deceive consumers using 10-digit numbers," the DoT added.
To address this, the DoT has allocated a new numbering series, 160xxxxxxx which will exclusively be used for service/transactional voice calls by the Principle Entities.
This clear differentiation between service/transactional calls versus other types of calls will make it easier for citizens to manage their communication.
"For example, the service/transactional calls originating from Financial Entities like by RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA, etc shall start from 1601," said DoT.
The Department said that telecom Service Providers (TSP) will need to ensure "adequate verification of every entity before assigning a number from 160 series and the entity shall undertake to use it only for service/transactional calls".
For any suspected fraud communications, citizens can report it on the Chakshu facility at Sanchar Saathi (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in).
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
K Kavitha's Bail Plea Dismissed By Delhi High Court, Setback For KCR In Telangana High Court
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Goes Live Ahead of Scheduled Launch; Day Zero Event Details Out Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Trailer Released Ahead of Global Launch on March 21: All You Need to Know New AI Scam: A Fake Cop Spoke To Woman, Said Her Daughter Was Arrested Days After Oath, BJP Ally C Naidu Seeks Meet With Congress's Revanth Reddy BJP Alleges Rahul Gandhi Insulted Hindus, He Responds With RSS Jab 2 Ministers, MP Lead Fight Back On Rahul Gandhi's Alleged Insult Of Hindus "Proud Of Going To Prison": Former Trump Aide Begins 4-Month Sentence Delhi Shop-Owner Kills Man For Not Purchasing Grocery From Him: Cops Russia Shoots Down 5 Aerial Targets Over Crimea, Says Governor Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.