India Steps Up Cyber Fraud Fight as Sanchar Saathi Blocks Crores of Suspicious Mobile Connections

India’s efforts to fight cyber fraud have gained strong momentum with the success of the Sanchar Saathi initiative. According to official data, the government has blocked 1.52 crore mobile connections linked to unauthorised or suspicious activities. In addition, nearly 2 crore mobile numbers were disconnected after verification found irregularities. The action has also extended to digital platforms, with about 27 lakh WhatsApp accounts linked to fraudulent SIM cards being disabled.

Sanchar Saathi, launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has emerged as an important component of India's expanding cybersecurity architecture. As digital services become more widespread, scammers are devising new ways to exploit telecom networks. Sanchar Saathi addresses this issue by allowing users to report suspect numbers, block lost or stolen SIM cards, and verify mobile connections associated with their identification.

According to government officials, the platform has been widely used. The Sanchar Saathi portal has received approximately 20 crore visits, and its mobile app has over 2 crore downloads, making it one of India's most popular citizen-focused cyber safety tools. The Union Communications Minister recently described it as a "strong digital firewall" that shields people from telecom fraud.

Behind the scenes, advanced intelligence systems are also playing an important role. One such tool, ICORE, combines data from several authorities to track organised fraud networks working across states and even internationally. Using these techniques, police discovered and blocked nearly 1.35 crore spoofed calls, which are fraudulent calls that appear to be from a local number but are generally originated outside. This has purportedly decreased faked phone traffic by about 95%.

Another critical phase is the Financial Fraud Risk Indicators (FFRIs) system. This tool warns banks and financial institutions in real time when high-risk transactions are discovered. It now connects 800 to 900 banks and financial institutions, reducing losses from phishing, SIM swap fraud, and identity theft.

While the initiative did raise privacy concerns earlier, especially around app pre-installation, the government later clarified that usage remains voluntary. Overall, Sanchar Saathi shows how technology-driven governance, public participation, and inter-agency coordination can strengthen trust and safety in India’s fast-growing digital economy.

This article is based on information from The 420