Airtel's Pioneering Fraud Detection Safeguards Millions in Bengal

Bharti Airtel announced on Tuesday that its AI-powered fraud detection system has shielded over 6.4 million users in West Bengal from online fraudsters in just 41 days.

The system, which is being rolled out nationwide, scans more than one billion URLs daily, blocking harmful links in less than 100 milliseconds across various platforms, including SMS, WhatsApp, and social media.

Ayan Sarkar, CEO for West Bengal and Odisha at Bharti Airtel, emphasized the impact of this global-first solution, which has blocked over 188,000 harmful links and secured 95.6 million users across India since its launch.

The company is collaborating with the DIG (Cyber Crime) of West Bengal to develop joint strategies against rising cyber threats in the region.

Notably, cities like Siliguri and Asansol, as well as towns such as Bankura, have experienced a surge in fraudulent activities.

Airtel's system offers fraud alerts in Bengali to increase its effectiveness in areas with limited digital literacy.

This initiative follows directives from TRAI in 2024, urging service providers to implement anti-fraud measures for customer protection.

(With inputs from agencies.)