India Launches Chakshu—A Platform for Reporting Fraud Calls and Texts

India has taken a significant step in the fight against fraud calls and texts with the launch of a new digital platform called Chakshu. Designed to empower individuals to report fraudulent communications, Chakshu aims to provide real-time intelligence-sharing and enhance the protection of citizens against faceless criminals. Let's delve into the details of this innovative platform and its potential impact on curbing fraudulent activities. Simplifying Reporting Process: Chakshu, introduced by the Department of Telecommunication, streamlines the process of reporting fraud calls and messages. It enables individuals to report fraudulent communication received through various mediums such as calls, SMS, and social media platforms like WhatsApp. This user-friendly platform ensures that citizens can easily flag suspicious activities, contributing to a safer digital environment. Real-time Intelligence-sharing: One of the key features of Chakshu is its ability to facilitate real-time intelligence-sharing among multiple stakeholders. Telecom companies, law enforcement agencies, banks and financial institutions, social media platforms, and authorities issuing identity documents can collaborate and exchange information on fraudulent activities. This coordination will help in identifying and stopping fraudulent operations more efficiently.   Union telecom and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of Chakshu in enhancing security measures. Once fraudulent communication is reported through the platform, it triggers a re-verification process. If the number fails the re-verification, it will be disconnected, preventing further fraudulent activities from being conducted using that number. This measure acts as a deterrent and protects citizens from falling victim to scams. Collaboration with Private Firms: To improve fraud protection, the government is open to collaborating with private firms such as Truecaller. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is working on building an app for Chakshu, which will further enhance its functionality. Integrating existing platforms like Truecaller will provide additional resources and expertise in identifying and blocking fraudulent numbers. Information Exchange and Coordination: Chakshu serves as a centralized information exchange and coordination agency. It ensures seamless collaboration among various stakeholders involved in fraud prevention. Telecom companies, law enforcement agencies, banks and financial institutions, social media platforms, and authorities issuing identity documents will have access to a repository of information regarding cases detected as misuse of telecom resources. This collective effort will strengthen the fight against fraud. Grievance Redressal and Money Recovery: Recognizing the inadvertent disconnection of legitimate connections and frozen funds, the government plans to create a dedicated grievance redressal platform. This platform will allow individuals to report cases of disconnected connections and facilitate the return of frozen funds. By addressing such issues promptly, Chakshu aims to restore faith in the system and ensure a fair process for the affected individuals. Integration with Sanchar Saathi: Chakshu will function as a backend repository for citizen-initiated requests on the Sanchar Saathi platform. Sanchar Saathi, launched in 2023, helps individuals track or block lost mobile phones and report instances of identity theft. The integration of Chakshu with Sanchar Saathi will provide a comprehensive solution for citizens to combat digital fraud effectively. The platform has already proven its effectiveness by tracing over 700,000 mobile phones and detecting over 6.7 million suspicious communication attempts, resulting in potential savings of ₹1,000 crore.