India
Trai weighs OTP standard as portal complaints hit 2.402 million
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Trai discussed standardising one time password SMS templates with operators, two people familiar with talks said. A format may list purpose, sender and validity. Cyber fraud complaints on India's portal rose to 2.402 million in 2025 from 262,000 in 2021, with amounts cited at Rs 22,495 crore versus Rs 551 crore. Experts doubt templates alone will stop OTP scams.
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What It Means For You
- Banking and shopping users could spot genuine OTP texts faster if carriers adopt a single preview and wording standard.
- Companies may need template updates across apps if Trai mandates new SMS fields after consultation.
- Victims reporting fraud still rely on portal complaints while formats are debated.
What's Happening
- Trai is expected to issue a consultation paper on OTP standardisation.
- Meetings with Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea representatives discussed consumer awareness.
- Some messages today show OTPs on lock screens while others hide codes inside the full text.
OTP Scam Complaint Growth
- Portal complaints jumped from 262,000 in 2021 to 2.402 million in 2025.
- Reported amounts involved rose from Rs 551 crore to Rs 22,495 crore over the same span.
- Officials provided no separate OTP only fraud count in the home ministry figures.
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