Bharti Airtel has announced that its AI-powered fraud detection system has successfully protected over 3.5 million users in Delhi-NCR from online scams and fraudulent activities within just 43 days of its launch. This initiative is part of a broader, nationwide effort to enhance digital safety for Airtel's mobile and broadband customers.
The increasing sophistication and prevalence of online fraud have made Delhi-NCR a hotspot for cybercrime. Fraudsters are employing increasingly complex techniques, including phishing links, fake delivery notifications, and spurious banking alerts, to deceive unsuspecting users. Recognizing this growing threat, Airtel has implemented a multi-tiered, AI-driven system to proactively safeguard its customers.
The fraud detection system is automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband users at no additional cost. It operates by scanning and filtering links across various platforms, including SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, email, and web browsers. This comprehensive approach ensures that potential threats are identified and addressed regardless of the communication channel used by fraudsters.
A key feature of Airtel's system is its ability to leverage real-time threat intelligence. The platform examines over 1 billion URLs daily, blocking access to harmful sites in under 100 milliseconds. For example, if a user receives a suspicious message with a link to track a delayed package, the system instantly scans the link. If the link is flagged as malicious, access is blocked, and the user is redirected to a warning message stating, "Blocked! Airtel found this site dangerous!". This near-instantaneous interception is crucial in preventing users from falling victim to fraud.
Nidhi Lauria, CEO – Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh (West), Bharti Airtel, emphasized the company's commitment to customer protection. "At Airtel, we are dedicated to protecting our customers from various types of fraud," Lauria stated. "By incorporating our network with an AI-driven fraud detection solution, we guarantee that our customers are protected from all new threats without requiring any action on their part. We consider it crucial to act now to secure the digital environment of tomorrow, and we take pride in being at the forefront of this initiative by providing a safer and more comprehensive network for our customers in Delhi-NCR."
To further enhance the system's effectiveness, Airtel has integrated AI to provide fraud warnings in the user's preferred language, including Hindi. This feature is particularly important in a diverse region like Delhi-NCR, ensuring that a wider range of users can understand and respond appropriately to potential threats.
In a collaborative effort to strengthen digital safety, Nidhi Lauria also met with Mr. Sanjay Arora, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to discuss Airtel's Fraud Detection Solution and explore ways to combat cyber threats across the region. This collaboration highlights the importance of a coordinated approach involving both telecom operators and law enforcement agencies to tackle the growing problem of online fraud.
Airtel's initiative is particularly beneficial for vulnerable groups such as families, senior citizens, homemakers, students, and first-time smartphone users, who may be more susceptible to online scams. By providing a seamless, real-time defense against fraudulent activities, Airtel is contributing to a safer and more secure digital environment for millions of users in Delhi-NCR.
