Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of a new security feature titled “Fraud Alert,” an AI-powered tool designed to protect customers from One-Time Password (OTP) related banking fraud. The telecom operator stated that the initiative is part of its broader strategy to secure its network against digital spam and scam activities.
Addressing OTP Vulnerabilities
The new system specifically targets a common method used by fraudsters: social engineering. Scammers frequently manipulate victims by creating a false sense of urgency—often masquerading as service providers or delivery personnel—to obtain OTPs. While these codes are intended for banking transactions, victims are often misled into believing they are verifying a routine service, inadvertently granting access to their savings.
Airtel’s solution aims to disrupt this process by identifying risky scenarios in real-time.
How the System Works
The “Fraud Alert” system utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor communication patterns. According to the company, the feature operates through the following mechanism:
- Detection: The system identifies potentially risky incoming calls.
- Correlation: It detects if a banking OTP is generated and delivered to the user while that specific call is active.
- Intervention: If these two events occur simultaneously, Airtel triggers a real-time fraud alert to the customer.
This alert serves as a warning, prompting the user to pause and verify the nature of the transaction before verbally sharing the OTP. The goal is to provide a “check” that counters the pressure tactics used by scammers, ensuring users remain in control of their security credentials.
Building on Existing Safeguards
This development follows a series of technical safeguards implemented by Airtel over the past two years, including spam-call warnings and malicious link blocking. While these measures have reduced network-level spam, the company acknowledges that fraudsters have adapted by focusing on human vulnerabilities through impersonation.
The “Fraud Alert” is designed to bridge the gap between network security and user behavior, offering protection against scams that rely on user consent rather than technical hacking.
Availability and Rollout
Airtel has confirmed that the solution is currently live for customers in Haryana. The company plans to complete a nationwide rollout, covering 100% of its customer base, within the next two weeks.
Commenting on the initiative, Shashwat Sharma, Managing Director & CEO Airtel, India said:
We are on a mission to make Airtel the safe network. While working towards this, we have realised that despite the foundational role played by One-Time Passwords (OTPs) in securing digital transactions, their efficacy is frequently being undermined by criminal tactics. We are, therefore, pleased to announce a significant advancement in Airtel’s network layer that is designed to strengthen protection against banking frauds.
Our newly developed, AI-powered, autonomous solution operates proactively at network level and is engineered to detect and intervene against fraudulent activity in real-time. Extensive trials have demonstrated a remarkable level of accuracy and impact in preventing the menace of such scams.