Scam alert: TRAI blocking your number

[Senthil]

I found this scam on Twitter which is talking about TRAI blocking your personal number.
 

#FraudAlert: Today morning I received a call from better sophisticated scammers. The entire call lasted about 1 hour and I was quite convinced that it was genuine.

The scammers initially called me through an automated voice call (+91 8112-178017) saying it’s from @TRAI. The robot said my number would get blocked in 2 hours and press 9 for more info.

That led me to the first guy who pretended to be from the Telecom Division. He told me someone in Bombay Andheri East has lodged a complaint against a number registered through my Aadhaar for illegal advertising and harassing texts. Apparently, the @MumbaiPolicehave sent them the blocking request and so TRAI would have to block all the numbers associated with the owner.

He gave me the details of the FIR etc and told me he’s forwarding the call to the Andheri East police station. He asked me to ask the police to send them a “clarification letter” that my original number is mine and I am not associated with the case to avoid the block. “There are a lot of identity theft going on in India” he said. 

That led me to the second guy who told me he’s the police SI in Mumbai Police. He took some details and said my statement would have to be recorded since I can’t be physically present in Bombay.

Then I received a video call from a third guy (+91 90324 07612). He was in a police uniform and spoke good English (first hint of doubt, no Marathi accent)!

Called his Head Constable in English and passed an order “to investigate” my case. I played along.

The fourth guy, the HC, then was recording my “statement” and asked for my Aadhaar number which I cited wrongly. I wanted to see what they do with it. The guy was talking on the walkie-talkie (some good production). Apparently, I was involved in a “65-crore money laundering case”. This got too funny there and honestly, cringe. “Kya aap kuch chhupa rahe ho hum se?” he asked .

I told him Dawood is my chacha. “Who Dawood?” he wondered. “Dawood Ibrahim. He’s my chacha (uncle)”. I told them to piss off and that was it.

But. The point is that the scammers are now a lot more sophisticated in their tactics. I don’t see a reason why my parents, older generation won’t fall for this. I bought the entire skit for 30 mins.