Truecaller Launching Caller ID Service For WhatsApp, Other Messaging Platforms Amid Rising Pesky Calls From International Numbers

Caller identification service provider Truecaller has announced it will roll out a caller identification facility available for WhatsApp and other messaging apps, to check spam calls over the Internet.

It will be introduced globally later this month, Truecaller Chief Executive Alan Mamedi was quoted as saying.

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Caller identification service provider Truecaller has announced it will roll out a caller identification facility available for WhatsApp and other messaging apps, in a bid to check spam calls over the Internet, news agency Reuters reported on Monday. This comes in the wake of an increasing number of international calls that WhatsApp users in India are witnessing, which in fact, is a scam. 

Truecaller is currently testing the caller identification feature for WhatsApp and other messaging platforms in beta phase. It will be introduced globally later this month, Truecaller Chief Executive Alan Mamedi was quoted as saying in the Reuters report.

Scammers are on the prowl and calling WhatsApp users from international numbers from countries such as Indonesia (+62), Kenya (+254), Ethiopia (+251), Malaysia (+60), Vietnam (+84) and others. Similar scams are being operated for YouTube users where they are lured into earning "quick money" by simply liking the videos. 

It is being said that scammers are tapping end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms, including Telegram and the world's most popular messaging platform WhatsApp to carry out these scams.

According to the country's telecom regulator (TRAI) network operators such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel were asked in February to start blocking telemarketing calls over their networks using artificial intelligence (AI) filters. Sweden-headquartered Truecaller has said to be discussions with the telcos to implement such a service.

Meanwhile, Truecaller, earlier in April launched Live Caller ID feature for iPhone users. However, there's a catch and unlike Android smartphone users, iOS users will have to use Siri to use this feature. The caller identification service provider has made the Live Caller ID available as a premium feature on the Truecaller app for iPhone users.

iPhone users will have to pay a premium to use this feature. TrueCaller premium subscription is available in Premium and Gold Premium. While an individual's premium subscription is available for Rs 529 per annum or Rs 179 for three months. Truecaller Gold subscription is available for Rs 5,000 per year.