Airtel Seeks Alliance With Jio, Vi to Tackle Rising Telecom Fraud
Bharti Airtel has reached out to rivals Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi), urging a collaborative effort to combat the sharp rise in telecom-related fraud across India. The company has also submitted its proposal to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and TRAI, underlining the need for an industry-wide strategy.
Airtel is advocating for a Joint Telecom Fraud Initiative, which would enable operators to share real-time fraud data and coordinate rapid responses. The goal is to stop phishing attacks, scam calls, and fraudulent messages before they reach customers. The call for action comes as India recorded over 1.7 million cyber fraud complaints and ₹11,000 crore in losses in the first nine months of 2024 alone.
The telecom giant has already launched its own AI-based system to block harmful links and suspicious content across SMS, WhatsApp, and other digital channels. Airtel is also proposing a shared digital fraud-tracking platform modeled after the current DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) system used for spam control.
Company officials are actively engaging with users to raise awareness and highlight the protective measures being implemented. Airtel believes that only through joint action can the telecom industry provide a safer digital space for consumers.