NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, raised the issue of rising spam calls, phishing attempts, and data privacy breaches affecting millions of Indians.
Addressing Parliament, Tanavade highlighted the surge in unsolicited spam calls, fraudulent audio and video calls via WhatsApp and social media, and deceptive messages through emails, SMS, and fake websites. These scams pose a serious threat to citizens’ privacy, security, and finances.
“Every day, innocent people receive calls from fraudsters posing as banks, government agencies, or law enforcement. Many fall into their trap, losing their hard-earned money,” Tanavade stated.
He emphasized that those unfamiliar with digital technology, especially senior citizens and rural populations, are at higher risk of falling victim to such frauds.
Tanavade further pointed out that the misuse of personal data is a key issue. Fraudsters obtain phone numbers and personal details illegally through data harvesting, mining, and unauthorized purchases from third-party brokers. This breach of privacy demands immediate government action.
“The right to privacy is a fundamental right. The government must take strict steps to stop unauthorized data access, impose tougher penalties, and regulate telemarketing to prevent such frauds,” he urged.
The MP also noted that Goa has seen an increase in such scams, with many Goans losing their savings to fraudsters.
He called on the government to introduce stronger laws, enhance digital security, and enforce stricter monitoring to tackle this growing menace.