New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) today advised phone users to beware of receiving malicious incoming calls asking them not to dial *401# followed by some unknown mobile number.
“This activates unconditional call forwarding received on the mobile of the users to the unknown mobile number. This allows fraudsters to receive all incoming calls and can be used for fraud,” it warned.
The DoT explained how the fraudsters operate and their modus operandi:
- The fraudster calls the telecom subscriber and pretends to be a customer service representative or technical support staff from their telecom service provider.
- The fraudster states that either there is a problem with their SIM card or there is some issue related to network or service quality and they need to dial a specific code to fix the problem. This code usually starts with *401# followed by a mobile number.
- After doing so unconditional call forwarding is activated on their mobile number and all incoming calls etc. are forwarded to the fraudster’s mobile number.
- The fraudster then receives all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.
The DoT clarified that the telecom service providers never ask their subscribers to dial *401#. It further asked the mobile user to check the mobile phone settings for call forwarding and immediately disable it in case it is enabled. “Use the facility only when it is required,” it said.
– global bihari bureau
