Indian Government instructed WhatsApp to block fraudulent account. More than 3.6 million accounts have already been banned. Instances of fraudulent calls via WhatsApp in India are escalating steadily. Citizens are receiving unsolicited voice and video calls from unidentified international numbers, and scammers are maliciously targeting unsuspecting individuals. To combat this issue, the Indian government has urged WhatsApp to ban accounts involved in fraudulent activities, aiming to address the proliferation of these deceitful numbers.
At the launch event, Union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was queried about the government's actions to address the escalating cases of WhatsApp call scams in the country.
In response, he stated, "We have been actively collaborating with WhatsApp, and they have acknowledged that customer safety is of utmost importance. All over-the-top (OTT) platforms are actively cooperating in deregistering users identified as fraudulent."
Furthermore, he disclosed that a significant number of phone numbers, totaling 3.6 million, have been disconnected due to fraudulent activities, resulting in the banning of associated WhatsApp accounts.
In a statement, WhatsApp expressed gratitude to the minister for recognizing their endeavors in safeguarding user security. The statement conveyed, "We appreciate the minister's recognition of WhatsApp's unwavering dedication to user safety. We have been actively collaborating with the government to consistently ensure a secure and protected user experience, which includes proactively removing malicious users from the platform."
In a previous communication, WhatsApp urged users to proactively block and report any dubious calls to facilitate appropriate actions against them.
A spokesperson from WhatsApp emphasized the significance of this action, stating, "Blocking and reporting suspicious messages/calls is a crucial measure in effectively combating scams. When users receive calls from unfamiliar international or domestic numbers, WhatsApp offers a convenient method to block and report questionable accounts. Reporting such accounts to WhatsApp is vital, as it enables us to take necessary action and ban them from the platform. Users can also exercise control over who can access their personal information and online presence by utilizing our privacy controls. Restricting the visibility of personal details to only trusted contacts can help safeguard accounts against malicious entities."
Regarding the ongoing scam targeting individuals, numerous WhatsApp users have come forward to report receiving calls from various countries such as Ethiopia (+251), Malaysia (+60), Indonesia (+62), Kenya (+254), Vietnam (+84), and others. Additionally, some users mentioned receiving messages that enticed them with appealing part-time job opportunities, along with video calls originating from unfamiliar numbers.
It is essential to recognize that the origin of an international call does not necessarily indicate that the caller is physically located in a different country. WhatsApp calls are transmitted over the internet, enabling anyone to make an international call through WhatsApp, even if they are situated in the same city as the recipient.