TRAI Launches Chakshu App For Reporting Fraudulent Calls And SMS. How To Use

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched a new initiative called Chakshu. This portal aims to address the problem of fraudulent calls and messages.

TRAI's new platform, Chakshu, translates to "eye" in Hindi.

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched a new initiative called Chakshu. This portal aims to address the problem of fraudulent calls and messages, providing users with tools to protect themselves from potential scams. This comes in the wake of our increasing reliance on the Internet, and the prevalence of online scams. Many people are experiencing an increase in unsolicited calls from fraudsters attempting to steal their hard-earned money.

To understand the benefits of TRAI's Chakshu and how it operates, let's explore its features and functionality.

TRAI's new platform, Chakshu, translates to "eye" in Hindi -- aims to be a vigilant watchdog for the public. It empowers users to flag phone numbers they believe are being used for fraudulent communications. These suspicious activities often masquerade as legitimate messages or calls related to various services, including banking, credit cards, digital payment systems, mobile SIM cards, gas connections and other utilities.

How To Use TRAI's Chakshu App?

The process is simple: when a user encounters a potentially fraudulent communication, they can report it through TRAI's Chakshu portal. Upon receiving such reports, the telecom regulator initiates an investigation into the flagged number. If their inquiry confirms malicious intent or fraudulent activity, TRAI takes decisive action.

This typically involves terminating the service for the offending number and pursuing appropriate legal measures against the perpetrators. By creating this collaborative reporting system, TRAI intends to swiftly identify and neutralise potential threats.

The Chakshu platform offers users the ability to classify reported communications into various fraud categories. These include, but are not limited to:

• KYC (Know Your Customer) related scams
• Impersonation attempts
• Fake customer support hotlines
• Fraudulent online job offers
• Sextortion schemes
• Malicious links or websites

To support their report, users have the option to upload images or screenshots as evidence, though this is not mandatory for filing a report.

When submitting a complaint, individuals are required to provide some personal information. This includes their name and contact number. To ensure the authenticity of reports and prevent misuse, the platform implements a verification process. After entering their details, users must validate their phone number by entering a one-time password (OTP) sent to that number.