---
title: "Preventing Financial Frauds Perpetrated Using Voice Calls and SMS: Key Highlights from the RBI Circular"
date: 2025-01-20
author: "Rahul Sundaram"
url: https://www.indialaw.in/blog/civil/financial-frauds-key-highlights-rbi/
---

# Preventing Financial Frauds Perpetrated Using Voice Calls and SMS: Key Highlights from the RBI Circular

Posted On - 20 January, 2025 •

By - [Rahul Sundaram](https://www.indialaw.in/people/rahul-sundaram/ "Posts by Rahul Sundaram")

[![Preventing Financial Frauds Perpetrated Using Voice Calls and SMS: Key Highlights from the RBI Circular](https://www.indialaw.in/wp-content/uploads/6922102.png)](https://www.indialaw.in/wp-content/uploads/6922102.png)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a critical circular (Circular No. RBI/2024-25/105, dated January 17, 2025, titled “Prevention of Financial Frauds Perpetrated Using Voice Calls and SMS – Regulatory Prescriptions and Institutional Safeguards”) aimed at addressing the growing menace of financial frauds perpetrated through voice calls and SMS. With digital transactions becoming an integral part of modern banking, this circular provides regulatory measures and safeguards to ensure enhanced consumer protection. Below is an in-depth exploration of the circular’s objectives, background, and actionable steps for Regulated Entities (REs).

## Objective

The primary objective of the circular is to mitigate the risks of financial fraud arising from the misuse of mobile numbers, which are pivotal in authentication processes for digital transactions. Fraudsters often exploit these identifiers to access sensitive financial communications such as OTPs, transaction alerts, and account updates.

## Background

While digital banking offers unmatched convenience, it has also become a fertile ground for fraudsters. Mobile numbers, being key identifiers in the banking ecosystem, have become vulnerable to misuse. Criminals use these identifiers for activities such as obtaining unauthorized access to accounts or diverting funds fraudulently. To combat this, the RBI has outlined measures that combine regulatory oversight, technological integration, and customer awareness.

## Measures Required of Regulated Entities (REs)

The circular directs REs, including banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), prepaid payment instrument issuers, and others, to implement the following measures:

**1. Utilize the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL):**

- **Source and Purpose:** The MNRL is available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It contains categories of disconnected mobile numbers such as:
  - Numbers taken on forged documents.
  - Numbers involved in cybercrimes or financial frauds.
  - Numbers reported by citizens or disconnected due to fraud analysis by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
- **Actions for REs:**
  - Clean and update customer databases using the MNRL.
  - Enhance monitoring of accounts linked to revoked mobile numbers.
  - Prevent such accounts from being used as “money mules” or in other fraudulent activities.

**2. Verified Customer Care Numbers:**

- REs are required to share verified customer care numbers with the DIP to enable publication on the “Sanchar Saathi” portal “[https://sancharsaathi.gov.in”](https://sancharsaathi.gov.xn--in-02t/).

**3. Use Specified Numbering Series for Communication:**

- **Transactional and Service Calls:**
  - Use the ‘1600xx” numbering series (to be operationalized soon).
- **Promotional Voice Calls:**
  - Use only the “140xx” numbering series.
- **Guidelines Compliance:**
  - Adhere to TRAI’s “Important Guidelines for sending commercial communication using telecom resources through Voice Calls or SMS.”

**4. Awareness Initiatives:**

- **Channels of Communication:**
  - REs must educate customers through emails, SMS, and other means, including vernacular languages, about these measures.
- **Content:**
  - Awareness campaigns should include information on identifying fraud, using DND registration to block unsolicited communications, and recognizing trusted communication from REs.

**5. Implementation Timeline:**

- REs must ensure full compliance with these directives by **March 31, 2025**.

## Key Highlights from the Annexure

The circular includes an annexure detailing TRAI’s Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018), which are critical for curbing unsolicited commercial communications (UCC). Some important regulatory requirements include:

- **Registration on DLT Platforms:**
  - All entities sending commercial communications must register on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platforms.
  - Use only registered headers and content templates.
- **Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA):**
  - Obtain explicit digital consent from customers for promotional communications.
  - Use only the DCA systems deployed by Access Providers.
- **Data Confidentiality and Security:**
  - Ensure confidentiality and security of customer data.
  - Minimize the number of intermediaries (e.g., telemarketers) handling customer information.
- **Measures Against Misuse:**
  - Register only the necessary headers and content templates.
  - Deactivate unused headers to prevent unauthorized use.
  - Prohibit the use of URL shortening services that do not clearly indicate the sender’s identity.
- **Actionable Penalties:**
  - Non-compliance can result in disconnection of telecom resources and blacklisting of the entity for up to two years.

## Conclusion

The RBI’s proactive measures underline the importance of a secure digital ecosystem, especially as reliance on mobile-based transactions continues to grow. By mandating the use of advanced fraud detection tools, standardized communication protocols, and robust customer awareness programs, this circular seeks to create a safer financial environment for all stakeholders. The timely adoption of these measures by REs will play a pivotal role in minimizing fraud risks and building trust in digital banking services.

For further details write to [contact@indialaw.in](mailto:contact@indialaw.in)

Disclaimer - This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal counsel in relation to their individual circumstances.

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# IndiaLaw LLP — Offices & Contact Details

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## General Contact

| | |
|---|---|
| **Website** | https://www.indialaw.in |
| **Primary email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Primary phone** | +91 836-9995919 |
| **Contact form** | https://www.indialaw.in/connect/ |
| **Careers (separate channel)** | https://www.indialaw.in/careers/ |


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### 1. Mumbai — Registered Office & Head Office (Apeejay Chambers)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Apeejay Chambers, Ground Floor, Wallace Street, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001 |
| **Phone** | [022-6924-7400](tel:02269247400) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/mumbai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Arbitration · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Corporate · Banking · Real Estate · IP |
| **Notes** | The HQ. 5 partners based here. Handles PAN-India litigation, arbitration, corporate, banking, IP and real estate practice. Largest team across all offices. |

### 2. Mumbai — Non-Litigation Office (Excelsior, Fort)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | 4th Floor, New Excelsior Theatre Pvt. Ltd., Amrit Keshav Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001 |
| **Phone** | [022-697-40500](tel:022-697-40500) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/mumbai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Non-litigation only — consultations, negotiations, transactional work |
| **Notes** | Opened 2024. Litigation and arbitration remain at the Apeejay Chambers head office. |

### 3. Delhi

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Flat No. 1107 & 1108, Prakashdeep Building, Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110 001 |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/delhi/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Arbitration · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Corporate · Banking · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | 3 partners based here. Located near the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court and other appellate bodies. |

### 4. Kolkata

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Centre Point Building, Room No. 214, 2nd Floor, Premises No. 21, Hemanta Basu Sarani, Opp. Great Eastern Hotel, P.S. Hare Street, Kolkata – 700 001, West Bengal |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/kolkata/ |
| **Practice focus** | Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Commercial & Civil Litigation · Arbitration · Banking Litigation · Real Estate · Labour & Employment · Consumer |
| **Notes** | Advises banks, NBFCs, MSMEs and corporates on transactions and dispute resolution. Works in close coordination with the Mumbai HO. |

### 5. Chennai

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | GF-A, 19 Casa Major Road, Egmore, Chennai – 600 008 |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/chennai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Full-fledged office with experienced legal team. Supported by Mumbai HO. |

### 6. Bengaluru (Bangalore)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | INDIALAW LLP, No. 7 Chinnaswamy Mudaliar Road, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore – 560 051 |
| **Phone** | [080-4167-2444](tel:08041672444) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/bengaluru/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate · Family Laws · Labour |
| **Notes** | Located near Bangalore High Court. Handles corporate, commercial, banking and matrimonial disputes. |

### 7. Hyderabad

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | 403, 4th Floor, Sanatana Ecstasy Building, beside Tanishq Show Room, Himayathnagar, Hyderabad – 500 029, Telangana |
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| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/hyderabad/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Banking · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Particularly well known for complex banking matters and real estate transactions. |

### 8. Cochin (Kochi)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Second Floor, Pulikkal Building, K.K. Padmanabhan Road, Ernakulam North – 682 018, Kerala |
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| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/cochin/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Commercial disputes, property litigation, financial-claim arbitrations and real estate transactions. |

### 9. Noida (NCR)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | No. 16 & 17, Silver Offices, 17th Floor, Wave One, Sector 18, Noida – 201 301 |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/noida/ |
| **Practice focus** | Aviation · Insurance · Mergers & Acquisitions · Corporate |
| **Office head** | **Mr. Dinesh Gupta** (joined August 2025 to lead and expand the corporate practice) |
| **Notes** | Newest office. Sector-focused on highly regulated industries serving NCR-based clients. |

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## Quick-Dial Phone List

| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Mumbai HO (Apeejay) | 022-6924-7400 |
| Mumbai Excelsior | 022-697-40500 |
| Kolkata | +91 33 4813 1001 |
| Bengaluru | 080-4167-2444 |
| Hyderabad | 040-6666-5166 |
| Cochin | 0484-3583961 |
| **General / Marketing line** | **+91 836-9995919** |

Delhi, Chennai and Noida route through the general number.

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