Your phone rings. You pick up. You say “hello” then “hello” again, but there’s complete silence on the other end. Most of us brush it off as a wrong number or a network glitch. But that quiet moment could actually be the start of a scam, and the government wants you to take it seriously. Silent calls are becoming more common in India, and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has officially warned users about them. What are silent calls, and why do they happen? A silent call is exactly what it sounds like: you receive a call, but the caller doesn’t say anything. According to the DoT, these calls are not random or accidental. Scammers use them as a tool to check whether your phone number is active. Once you answer and speak, even briefly, the caller knows the number is in use. That confirmation alone makes your number valuable and more likely to be targeted again. Also read: Fraud in the name of hotel booking, how scammers trap people and how to avoid it
Why scammers want you to speak first The real danger begins when you respond by saying “hello” multiple times. Scammers may record your voice during these moments of silence. Even a few seconds of audio can later be misused. These voice samples can be used for fake consent, identity verification fraud, or even AI-based voice cloning. In simple terms, your own voice could be turned against you without your knowledge. That’s why experts advise a simple rule: If no one speaks on the call, you shouldn’t either. How silent calls fit into bigger cyber scams Silent calls are often just the first step. Once scammers confirm that your number is active, it may be used for more advanced fraud attempts. This could include phishing calls, WhatsApp scams, fake customer care calls, or links that try to infect your device with malware. Cyber fraud in India is rising rapidly, and scammers constantly change their methods. Silent calls are an easy, low-effort way for them to identify potential victims before moving in with more convincing tricks. Also read: What is ‘device fingerprinting’ and how does this invisible tech affect your phones
How to report silent calls on Sanchar Saathi
You can report silent calls using the Chakshu portal, which is part of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.
Step-by-step guide: That’s it. Your complaint gets officially logged. Also read: Attackers use ChatGPT and Grok to create search-visible links that misguide users into hacking their own devices
What you should remember next time your phone goes silent If you receive a silent call, don’t assume it’s a harmless error. Avoid speaking, end the call, block the number, and report it if possible.
In the world of phone scams, silence isn’t empty; it’s a signal. And sometimes, staying quiet is the smartest move you can make.
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