In Brief
- Smartphone users reported receiving incoming calls displaying "Mahatma Gandhi" on caller ID systems in the days leading up to Gandhi Jayanti.
- Cybersecurity experts warned that scammers use high-profile or recognized names to exploit curiosity and increase call answer rates.
- Fraudsters use these calls to establish artificial urgency, attempting to trick recipients into revealing banking credentials or sensitive personal information.
Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, numerous mobile phone users have reported receiving calls with the contact name or caller ID displayed as "Mahatma Gandhi". The phenomenon has raised concerns among digital security analysts, who identify the practice as a targeted social engineering strategy designed to manipulate recipient behavior through novelty or curiosity.
Cybersecurity experts caution that fraudsters frequently leverage spoofing techniques and crowdsourced caller identification platforms to disguise incoming numbers under famous names. Once a recipient answers out of curiosity, scammers typically employ deceptive tactics—such as fabricating urgent financial or legal scenarios—to pressure individuals into divulging confidential bank details, one-time passwords (OTPs), or personal identifying information. Security advisors strongly urge citizens to block suspicious numbers, avoid sharing personal credentials over the phone, and report spoofed calls to authorities.
