Online scams are on the rise in India. Scammers are reaching out to people through calls, SMSs and even instant messaging apps to trick them. One of the most common messaging apps that is currently being used for scams is WhatsApp. The Meta-owned platform has around 500 million active users monthly in India and thus making it vulnerable to scammers who want to reach out to more people and get hold of people’s hard-earned money. However, to combat the rising WhatsApp scams, Truecaller has joined hands with Meta to help users identify and block spam messages on the platform.
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The caller ID and spam blocking software- Truecallers is planning to make its caller identification service available over WhatsApp and other messaging apps to help users spot potential spam calls over the internet. The feature, currently in the beta phase, will be rolled out globally later in May, Truecaller Chief Executive Alan Mamedi said to Reuters.
According to the report, Truecaller is planning to launch a caller identification feature for WhatsApp and other messaging apps in May. The feature will help users identify and block spam messages.
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Truecaller’s co-founder and CEO Alan Mamedi said that spam calls are a major problem in countries like India, where users receive an average of 17 unwanted calls per month. He added that Truecaller is working with telecom operators like Reliance Jio and Airtel to develop a solution that uses AI to filter out telemarketing calls on their network, as advised by the Indian telecom regulator TRAI.
“Over the last two weeks, we have seen a spike in user reports from India about spam calls over WhatsApp,” said Mamedi. He notes that this is a relatively new trend of telemarketers using internet calling to reach people.
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According to a 2021 report by Truecaller, India is one of the countries where users face a high number of telemarketing and scamming calls. On average, users receive about 17 spam calls per month. To address this issue, the telecom regulator in India has asked carriers like Jio and Airtel to use artificial intelligence filters to block unwanted calls over their networks. Truecaller has also said that it is working with telecom operators to implement such a solution.
Also, considering WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app in India and worldwide, Mamedi observed a recent increase in spam calls through the app from Indian users. Truecaller uses its spam detection technology to identify and act against such callers and also lets users block and report them.
Considering the rising reports of spam in India, Mamedi further said that Treucaller will allow users block and report such callers using its spam detection technology to help them to take action against them.
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Notably, the new ID detection feature is available in the beta version and will be available for everyone in future app updates. Users who want to try the feature can join as beta testers to test the new feature.
How to use Truecaller’s spam detection for WhatsApp
Step 1: Join the Truecaller beta program on Google Play Store
- Open Google Play Store and search for Truecaller
- Scroll down the listing page and tap on the Join button under Become a beta tester section
- Wait for a while and then search for Truecaller again on Play Store
- Install the beta update
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Step 2: Enable caller ID for WhatsApp and other messaging apps
- Open Truecaller and go to Settings
- Tap on Caller ID and turn on the toggle for Identify unknown number in WhatsApp and other messaging apps
Once the feature is available, use and test the new feature and report any bugs or feedback to Truecaller.
