Is Your Phone Number Safe? Here’s How to Check & Protect It in 2025!

In today’s hyper-connected world, your phone number is not just a means of communication but an identity and the scammers across the globe are eagerly awaiting to exploit. The recent reports of the Reuters and Hindustan Times underpin a shocking statement that Indians are increasingly falling victim to the cyber tricks and scams like SIM Swap frauds, caller ID spoofing, all these begins with just the phone number. And the Ministry of Communications and TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has stated that scammers utilize all the possible methods which includes impersonating telecom agents, bribing local vendors, or using AI tools to hijack your mobile numbers which gives the access to your bank OTPs, emails, and personal chats. 

How to know that your mobile number is being hijacked?

• A sudden loss of mobile signal 
• OTPs might not arrive at the right time
• An unexpected SIM activation messages from your telecom provider
• ‘Missed Call’ alerts might be received which you have never made
• Strangely you might receive the login alerts from any apps or bank accounts
• Your mobile access to the key services like UPI/Whatsapp would be disabled

Initiatives of Indian Government

The mobile number we use is as sensitive as your Aadhaar so it must be guarded with utmost awareness and safety measures. Because one careless click or call can deliver your entire digital life to a hacker on the other end. So, in 2025 the Indian government has stepped into this issue with more responsibility and new solutions that caters protection which are, 

• A mandatory 7-day wait period after the SIM being reissued before the porting is allowed
• Before issuing a new SIM – dealer verification and biometric KYC will be carried out
• The deactivated numbers will be blocked for 90 days before its reuse
• AI-based anti-spoofing tech will be used to block the fake international calls

The following are the emergency actions you need to do if you find the above mentioned strange activities with your mobile numbers, 

• If you find some strange activities you can freeze your SIM or the SMS for 24-hour to prevent OTP misuse
• Report the cyber crime via – cybercrime.gov.in 
• Or You can call the cybercrime helpline – 1930
• Primarily file a FIR in the near by local police or cyber cell to push forward with the legal action

You can protect your mobile number from the digital scams by setting up 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) using the authenticator app and not via a SMS. To chop off the spam exposure you should register your number with DND (Do Not Disturb) on your mobile. And use a strong voicemail PIN for further protection.

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