By Col Binoj Koshy (at Linkedin).

In today’s digital age, financial fraud is a growing concern. Scammers are constantly devising new methods to deceive individuals and steal their hard-earned money. To combat this menace, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a significant step by issuing a directive to Regulated Entities (REs) on 17 January 2025. The RBI has taken a significant step towards mitigating financial fraud by issuing this directive. This directive mandates REs to utilize the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) to monitor and clean their customer databases. The MNRL is a real-time database of disconnected mobile numbers that may have been involved in fraudulent activities. This directive outlines several measures aimed at mitigating financial fraud and protecting customers. This demands, that the REs will have to augment the infrastructure and also interface systems and processes to comply with these guidelines. The implementation is required to be completed by 31 March 2025.
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In addition to utilizing the MNRL, RE’s are also required to provide their verified customer care numbers to DIP. This will enable the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to publish these numbers on the “Sanchar Saathi” portal, providing customers with a reliable source to verify the authenticity of calls and messages.
What is the MNRL?
The Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) is a critical component of the RBI’s efforts to combat financial fraud in the digital age. It is a real-time database maintained on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The MNRL is essentially a list of mobile numbers that have been deactivated or disconnected for various reasons, many of which are associated with fraudulent activities.
Why is the MNRL Important?
In today’s digital world, mobile phone numbers have become a ubiquitous identifier, used for everything from account authentication to receiving sensitive payment information like OTPs and transaction alerts. However, this reliance on mobile numbers also makes them a prime target for scammers.
By utilizing the MNRL, regulated entities (REs) can monitor and clean their customer databases, ensuring that deactivated or disconnected numbers associated with fraudulent activities are flagged or removed. This helps prevent fraudsters from using revoked numbers to gain unauthorized access to accounts or carry out other malicious activities.
How is the MNRL Used?
The MNRL is available on the DIP, allowing REs to access it in real-time. REs are required to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that incorporate the necessary actions based on the MNRL, such as updating registered mobile numbers after due verification and enhancing the monitoring of accounts linked to revoked numbers.
Key Benefits of the MNRL:
- Fraud Prevention: Helps prevent various types of online and other frauds by identifying and flagging potentially compromised mobile numbers.
- Enhanced Security: Enhances the security of digital transactions by ensuring that REs have access to the most up-to-date information on mobile number status.
- Real-time Monitoring: Provides real-time monitoring of revoked mobile numbers, enabling REs to take timely action.
- Customer Protection: Helps protect customers from falling victim to scams and other fraudulent activities.
The MNRL is a valuable tool in the fight against financial fraud, providing an additional layer of security for both REs and their customers.
What is DIP?
The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) is a secure platform that allows stakeholders to share information in real-time. It was developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help prevent cybercrime and financial fraud.
What does the DIP do?
- Shares information between stakeholders like law enforcement, banks, and social media platforms
- Helps identify cases of telecom resource misuse
- Serves as a repository for citizen requests on the Sanchar Saathi portal
What is there in the Offing?
All Senders (such as Banks, Mutual Funds, Insurance Companies, Mutual funds, Stockbrokers, other Financial Institutions, Corporates, Enterprises, SMEs, big and small businesses, and any entity who wishes to send commercial communication to its existing or prospective customers) shall get themselves registered with any of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) (referred to as ‘Access Providers’ in TRAI Regulations) on DLT platform under TCCCPR-2018 regulations before sending any commercial communications through voice calls or messages using telecommunication services.
Furthermore, RE’s are mandated to undertake transactional/service calls only using the ‘1600xx’ numbering series and promotional voice calls only through phone numbers using the ‘140xx’ numbering series. This measure aims to help customers differentiate between legitimate and potentially fraudulent calls.
RBI has also directed REs to conduct comprehensive awareness campaigns to educate customers about these measures. These campaigns will utilize various channels, including emails, SMS, and other modes of communication, in vernacular languages, to ensure maximum reach.
What is DLT?
The DLT platform of TRAI is a digital system that uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to record and manage sender IDs and content templates for SMS messages. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) requires businesses to register on this platform to send SMS messages.
Why is DLT registration required?
- To reduce spam and unwanted messages
- To protect consumers from fraudulent messages
- To ensure that only legitimate businesses can send promotional messages
- To promote transparency and accountability in telemarketing communication
Key Takeaways for Customers:
- Be aware of the new measures implemented by RBI to combat financial fraud.
- Utilize the “Sanchar Saathi” portal to verify the authenticity of calls and messages.
- Take note of the designated numbering series for transactional/service and promotional calls.
- Stay informed about the latest fraud prevention measures through RBI’s awareness campaigns.
By staying vigilant and informed, customers can protect themselves from falling victim to financial fraudsters.