140 vs 1600 Numbers: Is Your Bank Call a Scam?
TRAI and Truecaller are fighting over how to label calls from 140 and 1600 number series. Here's what it means for you: telling a real bank call from a scammer just got harder.
One spam call can cost you more than 10 chai-samosa combos — if you fall for a fake KYC trick
Yet scammers still reach you disguised as bank or loan agents
Key Takeaways
Never share OTP, CVV, or Aadhaar details on any inbound call — even if the caller ID shows your bank's name or a 1600 number.
Register on the DND (Do Not Disturb) portal at trai.gov.in or SMS 'START DND' to 1909 to reduce unsolicited promotional calls from 140 series.
Report suspicious calls from 140 or 1600 numbers directly on the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) under the 'Chakshu' fraud reporting section.
TRAI and Truecaller are fighting over how to label calls from 140 and 1600 number series. Here's what it means for you: telling a real bank call from a scammer just got harder.
Here's what happened: TRAI's 140 series is reserved for promotional business calls; 1600 is for service and transactional calls from banks, insurers, and fintechs.. Truecaller argues new TRAI draft rules would stop caller-ID apps from flagging spam on these number series, leaving users exposed.. TRAI clarified these number series are regulated and registered, but scammers often spoof or misuse them to appear legitimate..
What you should do: Never share OTP, CVV, or Aadhaar details on any inbound call — even if the caller ID shows your bank's name or a 1600 number.. Register on the DND (Do Not Disturb) portal at trai.gov.in or SMS 'START DND' to 1909 to reduce unsolicited promotional calls from 140 series.. Report suspicious calls from 140 or 1600 numbers directly on the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) under the 'Chakshu' fraud reporting section..
Real banks never call you to 'verify' your account or ask for your ATM PIN. If a 1600-series caller asks for any credential, hang up and call your bank's official number directly.
Compare 100+ Loan Options — Free
GoCredit's AI matches you with lenders most likely to approve YOUR profile. Zero CIBIL impact. Real rates in 60 seconds.
Show My Loan Offers →References
- [1]
This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.