The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a warning, advising consumers against dialing *401# followed by an unknown mobile number due to the potential for cyber fraud. According to the DoT’s statement, individuals should be cautious about responding to suspicious incoming calls instructing them to dial *401# followed by an unfamiliar mobile number.
The DoT emphasized that executing this action activates unconditional call forwarding, redirecting all incoming calls from the individual’s mobile to the specified unknown mobile number. This scenario provides fraudsters with the ability to intercept and exploit incoming calls for fraudulent purposes.
The typical approach of scammers involves posing as customer service representatives or technical support personnel from the target’s telecom operator. They falsely claim that there is an issue with the subscriber’s SIM card, network, or service quality, and convince the individual to dial a specific code, often beginning with *401#, followed by a mobile number.
Once the subscriber follows these instructions, unconditional call forwarding is triggered, enabling the fraudster to divert all incoming calls to their mobile number, potentially facilitating cyber fraud. The government has been intensifying efforts to combat online financial fraud, and individuals are urged to remain vigilant and refrain from responding to such suspicious requests.
