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Airtel Develops Technology to Combat Online Scams
Following its success in reducing spam on its network, Bharti Airtel is working on a new technology aimed at eliminating online scams and phishing attempts through text messages and calls for its over 380 million mobile users, according to a top official at India’s second-largest telecom operator.

The service, currently in development, will prevent scammers from misusing one-time passwords (OTPs) and online links, the official said. "We have made significant progress, with about 80% of the solution in place. Once we finalize the technology, there will be no fraud on the Airtel network," the official stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.

However, the official expressed concern that the proposed technology will not be effective on over-the-top (OTT) apps, which is "not right" for consumers. The official called on the government and telecom regulator to bring OTT communication apps under the regulatory framework to combat the issue.

The Challenge of OTT Apps
The official highlighted that Airtel’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based spam solution has been successful in identifying spam on its network, but it does not work on OTT platforms due to encrypted traffic. "We cannot intervene in OTT traffic, which is why we are pushing for regulations to curtail spam on these platforms," the official said. "Spam is a menace that affects everyone, regardless of the platform. All stakeholders must work together to eradicate it."

Bharti Airtel did not respond to email queries regarding the matter.

The Growing Menace of Spam
Telecom operators have been highlighting the increasing problem of spam and scam on OTT platforms, but measures to control them are ineffective due to the lack of regulation by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) or the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

According to estimates, India is among the world’s top markets for SMS phishing, with a large and growing mobile user base and low phone tariffs. Industry estimates suggest that one in every 12 mobile users is vulnerable to phishing every month, with over 120-150 million phishing messages sent monthly. Approximately 300,000 people fall victim to scams, but only 35,000-45,000 report such incidents.

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