DoT Launches FRI Tool to Curb Mobile-Based Payment Fraud in Real Time

 

 

In a major step toward enhancing digital payment security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)—a real-time intelligence tool designed to flag mobile numbers linked to financial frauds. Rolled out under the Digital Intelligence Platform, this tool aims to combat the rising threat of UPI fraud, SIM-based scams, and other mobile payment-related cybercrimes across India.

The FRI tool assesses risk levels—Medium, High, and Very High—based on data compiled from multiple sources, including the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), telecom service providers, and financial institutions. These insights allow Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platforms, digital wallets, and banking partners to take timely preventive actions.

“The FRI system brings much-needed synergy between telecom oversight and financial risk management. It’s a new era of intelligence-driven fraud control,” shared a senior DoT official. 

FRI flags suspicious mobile numbers in real time and shares this information with major digital payment platforms and banks. This enables immediate interventions such as blocking fraudulent transactions, alerting end-users, or freezing suspect accounts.

Popular fintech companies like PhonePe have already integrated the FRI system into their platforms, allowing them to proactively detect and act against potential cyber fraud threats. This collaboration signals a strong push toward a secure fintech ecosystem, especially as India witnesses exponential growth in digital transactions.

With cybercriminals increasingly targeting mobile-based payments, the FRI tool is expected to play a critical role in protecting consumer trust, reducing financial fraud losses, and strengthening the country’s overall cybersecurity infrastructure. It also aligns with the government’s vision of a ‘Digital India’ where safety, convenience, and innovation go hand-in-hand.

As adoption of the FRI tool expands across banks and fintech platforms, this real-time fraud detection mechanism could become a cornerstone of cyber-safe digital banking in India.