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go2market · 30 days ago

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The New 160 Series for Transactional and Service-Related Voice Calls

The Indian government is working relentlessly to build a secure communication infrastructure for mobile users. With the rapid rise of digital communication and technology, the risk of fraud and cybersecurity threats has become a major concern. In the last 5 years, financial fraud cases have been rising at an alarming rate, with scammers impersonating banks and tricking people into sharing sensitive details, leading to loss of their hard-earned money. To curb this growing menace, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) joined hands with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), to introduce the new 160xxxx series, a dedicated number range for transactional and service-related voice calls. In the financial year 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported a total of more than 13 thousand bank fraud cases across India leading to a loss of more than 139.3 billion Indian rupees. Until now, banks have primarily relied on landline numbers and regular mobile numbers for customer communication. While toll-free numbers and virtual numbers were being used for customer service to maintain call records, a significant portion of banking communication still depended on regular mobile numbers used by banks and their employees. To enhance security and prevent fraud, RBI has now mandated that all banks and financial institutions use the dedicated 160xxxx number series for transactional calls, ensuring greater transparency and trust in banking communications. This move is set to enhance trust, improve call transparency, and protect consumers from misleading or harmful communications. To know more details about the 160 number series, read this detailed blog.

Let’s discuss what type of organizations can use the 160xx Number series

Only Principal Entities (PEs) and Regulated Entities (REs) can obtain a 160XXX series number. Organizations regulated by RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA, and Government Organizations are eligible for the 160 series. Examples - Banks, Insurance Companies, Share Broking Companies, Government Bodies etc. The 160 series is exclusively for transactional and service-related communications.

How the 160 Number Series Helps in Controlling Spam & Fraud

Clear Differentiation Between Promotional & Transactional Calls –Earlier, both promotional and transactional calls were made from random or unverified mobile numbers, making it hard for users to distinguish between genuine and spam calls. Using a separate 160 series exclusively for transactional and service-related calls will ensure that users can immediately recognize legitimate calls, such as OTP verifications, order confirmations, or banking alerts.

DLT Registration for Principal Entities (PE) to Ensure Authenticity – All entities using the 160 series must register themselves on the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform, ensuring that only verified entities can use these numbers. This blocks fraudsters from using fake numbers to impersonate banks, telecom providers, or other trusted institutions.

Reduced Scope for Scam Calls & Phishing Attacks – Many fraudulent callers aim to trick users into sharing sensitive information by posing as financial institutions. With the 160 series being strictly regulated, scammers will find it harder to manipulate users with fake transaction-related calls as all transactional calls must be made through the 160 number series.

Stronger Compliance & Traceability – Since each 160 series number is linked to a registered entity (RE), any misuse can be easily traced back to the entity responsible. Organizations found violating the rules may face penalties, service suspension, or even blacklisting, ensuring accountability.

Enhanced Customer Trust & Secure Communication – Mobile users will have more confidence in answering calls from 160 series numbers, knowing they are legitimate and non-promotional. This not only reduces call anxiety but also enhances the efficiency of service-related communications, ensuring timely alerts and updates reach users.

Conclusion,

In Conclusion, we can say that the launch of this new 160xxx series is a big step towards creating a spam-free, secure communication infrastructure for all. By mandating DLT registration and ensuring clear distinctions between transactional and promotional calls, TRAI is empowering users with more control and security. Organizations that adopt the 160 series will gain customer trust, while fraudulent callers will face greater challenges in deceiving users. Also, it is a crucial mandate for all banks and BFSI organizations to adapt to these new guidelines to be compliant in the market. The sudden shift can be a challenge for many organizations, but it is definitely a step in the right direction to prevent users from fraud and spam. For more information related to the 160xxx series and how you can get your organization registered as a principal entity and get the 160 numbers to make sure your organization is compliant with the RBI and TRAI guidelines, connect with your cloud telephony service provider (go2market) and start the process now. For more information about this, connect with our team at 85 95 08 08 08 or visit our website www.go2market.in

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