Fake TRAI and CBI Officials, Deepfake Calls, and Psychological Tricks – A Warning for Everyone A senior citizen from Chandigarh became the victim of a terrifying cyber fraud that cost her over ₹2.5 crore. The scammers, posing as TRAI and CBI officials, accused her of involvement in illegal activities. Things escalated when fake identities including someone claiming to be the Chief Justice of India joined the call, threatening to deactivate her phone number. Out of fear and confusion, she ended up revealing sensitive bank details. The police have launched an investigation. Why TRAI is being used in scams The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a real and respected government body that regulates telecom services. Scammers use its credibility to trick victims into believing the calls are authentic. According to telecom expert Priyanka Kulkarni, these frauds have grown to an “industrial scale”, using advanced tech and mind games to trap even savvy users. How the scam works: Tactics broken down 1. Fake Calls with Real Fear Fraudsters use VoIP calls with spoofed numbers (like +65, +85, +977) to impersonate officials. 2. Scary Automated Messages Victims receive pre-recorded messages warning about SIM card deactivation or illegal activities like money laundering. 3. Fake Escalation Tactics The victim is connected to multiple fake “officials” speaking in regional dialects. They’re shown forged documents and forced into long video calls, isolating them from help. The tools used by scammers What they’re after Scammers aim to steal: They misuse this info to: How to spot a fake TRAI message How to stay safe What to do if you’ve been scammed The way forward Neehar Pathare, MD of 63SATS Cybertech, stresses the need for collaboration between users, telecom companies, and regulators. His suggestions: Stay alert. Stay safe. Scammers are smart but informed citizens are smarter.
