India has lost Rs 4.45 crore in four years to ‘International Call Routing Rackets’.
The loss is an 'estimated notional loss', a nomenclature that became popular during the 2G scam. As many as 14 cases have been booked from 2011 to second week of August. Of these nine cases have been reported this year, while 2013 saw no cases being registered.
The modus operandi, senior officials said, is to use hardware that convert themselves into small telephone exchanges of sorts, illegally routing incoming international calls to this network as opposed to licenced service providers.
Service providers charge a fee that's around half a rupee per minute, which contributes to the exchequer.
While the police has been successful if stopping some of these rackets from operating, the real responsibility is with the Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells, which are expected to constantly monitor, investigate and control such illegal routing of international calls.
The fact that these incoming calls go off the radar when routed illegally also means a security problem. Most of these rackets are controlled from West Asian (middle east) countries.
A look at all the cases registered in the last four years shows a high rate of incidence in Andhra Pradesh. Barring a case each in Pune and Tamil Nadu all cases are in Andhra, and in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.
The centre has said that the Department of Telecom has issued directions/guidelines to all licensed Telecom Service Providers for effective monitoring, detection and prevention of such illegal routing.
"...Interactions between TERM Cells & Telecom Service Providers are held for better awareness and effective monitoring in respect of such illegal routing/ setups."
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