New Delhi: In a significant security advisory, the Ministry of Defence has warned the public against responding to phone calls from the mobile number 7340921702, citing serious concerns that the caller may be attempting to extract sensitive information on behalf of Pakistani intelligence agencies.

The alert, issued late Friday evening, is part of a broader security campaign to thwart increasing attempts at telephonic espionage, where adversarial operatives pose as officials or acquaintances to gather critical data, particularly from those associated with the armed forces or key national institutions.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, the number in question has been flagged in multiple instances where unsuspecting civilians and low-level defence personnel received calls laced with misleading questions — some framed as job queries, others masked as routine surveys — all designed to coax information related to troop movement, military bases, or internal administrative operations.

“Initial technical surveillance suggests a potential link to Pakistan-based handlers operating through proxy numbers using VOIP technology,” a defence cyber security analyst said, on condition of anonymity. “These operatives often use psychological manipulation and social engineering to break down the target’s defences.”

This incident is not isolated. Over the past year, Indian security agencies have intensified monitoring of cyber and telecom-based threats, especially in the wake of multiple espionage cases where servicemen were found to be in contact with foreign operatives disguised as women on social media platforms or posing as government officers.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also collaborated with intelligence wings to counter what officials describe as a hybrid threat — blending digital penetration with traditional spycraft. Sources confirm that the number 7340921702 has shown a calling pattern toward border states, particularly Rajasthan and Punjab.

In its public advisory, the Defence Ministry urged all citizens, especially those with relatives in the armed forces, to be extremely cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers. No military-related information, however benign it may seem, should be shared under any circumstance, the statement emphasized.

“Even small data points, when aggregated, can compromise national security,” the advisory read. “Be alert, be responsible.”

Authorities have advised anyone receiving a call from the flagged number to:
• Avoid answering or disconnect immediately
• Do not share any personal, professional, or military-related information
• Report the call to local police or dial the nearest military intelligence unit
• Take a screenshot or note the time and content of the call, if any interaction occurs

The Defence Ministry is also working with the Department of Telecommunications and cyber crime cells across states to block the number and trace its international links. However, they caution that such numbers are often quickly changed by spy handlers, who operate under an ever-evolving digital cloak.

With cyber warfare and espionage becoming frontline threats in modern defence strategy, officials emphasize the importance of public awareness and proactive vigilance. Educational campaigns across schools, colleges, and public spaces are being considered to inoculate citizens against digital manipulation.

“This is not just a matter for soldiers or intelligence agencies anymore. Every citizen is a stakeholder in the nation’s security fabric,” said a retired lieutenant general.

The warning comes in the backdrop of recent espionage arrests in Rajasthan, where low-level military employees were found leaking sensitive inputs after being deceived into digital relationships by foreign agents. In many of these cases, it started with something as seemingly harmless as a phone call or a friend request.

India’s counter-intelligence agencies are currently monitoring dozens of suspicious numbers and have established a round-the-clock national monitoring cell to investigate potential breaches. The Ministry of Defence is also collaborating with cyber warfare divisions to flag and eliminate digital espionage threats at their root.

In a digital age where wars are no longer fought only on battlefields but also through data and deception, this warning by the Defence Ministry underscores the urgent need for heightened national cyber hygiene. A missed call can be ignored, but a careless response could cost the country dearly. For now, 7340921702 is a number best remembered — and left unanswered.

Source: News Agencies