DoT and FIU-IND join forces to combat telecom misuse, cyber-crimes, and financial fraud with real-time data sharing and advanced intelligence platforms.
In a significant development aimed at strengthening India’s defenses against the misuse of telecom resources in cyber-crimes and financial frauds, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Financial Intelligence Unit–India (FIU-IND) signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance information sharing and inter-agency coordination. The MoU was formalized by Shri Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director General (AI & Digital Intelligence Unit – DIU), DoT, and Shri Amit Mohan Govil, Director, FIU-IND, in the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), and Shri Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary (Revenue). This collaboration marks the beginning of a new framework of coordinated intelligence sharing between the Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) of DoT and the apex financial intelligence agency of the country.
Dr. Neeraj Mittal emphasized the evolving role of technology in governance, noting that while departments have successfully leveraged technology to meet internal objectives, real progress requires transcending departmental boundaries to bridge existing gaps. He stressed the need for synergy through inter-departmental learning and proposed the establishment of a joint working group to focus on identifying shell companies and conducting deeper collaborative analysis. Shri Arvind Shrivastava highlighted the partnership’s significance in maximizing technological potential. He expressed confidence that this technology-driven collaboration will ensure greater accuracy and timeliness in fraud detection, thereby enhancing the effective use of data.
The MoU introduces enhanced data-sharing mechanisms designed to secure real-time exchange of critical fraud-related information. The agreement enables the real-time sharing of Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) data, which classifies mobile numbers as medium, high, or very high risk based on their association with financial fraud. DoT will provide FIU-IND with the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL), including disconnection details such as date and reason, on an automatic basis. FIU-IND will reciprocate by sharing mobile numbers linked to accounts flagged in Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) related to cyber fraud and money mule operations. Data exchange will be facilitated through advanced platforms including DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and FIU-IND’s Finnex 2.0 portal, with secure, system-based interfaces enabling real-time transmission of intelligence between agencies.
The partnership is strategically aligned with the requirements of India’s expanding digital payment ecosystem, which faces increasing exposure to sophisticated fraud schemes. By integrating telecom intelligence from DoT with financial intelligence from FIU-IND, authorities will be able to prevent financial crimes more effectively, intercept fraudulent mobile connections at an early stage, and strengthen protections for digital transactions. The FRI framework, which incorporates multi-dimensional inputs from DoT’s Chakshu platform (Sanchar Saathi), financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies, provides an early warning system for identifying potentially fraudulent mobile numbers. This proactive capability allows both organizations to transition from reactive measures to preventive action.
The collaboration builds on the established success of DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform, which currently serves over 700 stakeholders, including 36 State and Union Territory police forces, central law enforcement agencies, SEBI, NPCI, FIU-IND, and more than 650 banks and financial institutions. It complements initiatives such as Sanchar Saathi, which has already enabled the disconnection of 2.84 crore fraudulent mobile connections. Leveraging FRI data, banks and financial institutions have successfully prevented or declined 48 lakh suspicious transactions, averting potential fraud losses of approximately ₹140 crore.
The MoU outlines future measures to strengthen systemic capabilities, including the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for structured information exchange, implementation of feedback mechanisms to enhance analytics for fraud detection at the national level, and issuance of guidelines and red-flag indicators for financial institutions to improve fraud prevention. The framework also provides for continuous consultation between agencies to ensure adaptive responses to emerging cyber threats, thereby safeguarding India’s digital economy.
The Financial Intelligence Unit–India (FIU-IND) functions as the central national agency for the receipt, processing, analysis, and dissemination of information relating to suspicious financial transactions, coordinating national efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing. The Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), established under the Department of Telecommunications, is dedicated to developing systems that curb the misuse of telecom resources in cyber-crimes and financial fraud. DIU has spearheaded the deployment of multiple AI and big data-driven solutions, including ASTR, an indigenous AI tool for detecting multiple SIM cards acquired under varied or fraudulent identities; CIOR, a system for real-time detection and blocking of spoofed international calls; the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application; and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI). Together, these institutions will reinforce India’s cybersecurity infrastructure and enhance resilience against emerging fraud risks in the digital economy.
Date: 26/09/2025
