Airtel Doubles Down on OTP Scams with AI-Powered ‘Fraud Alert’

Over the past few years, India has emerged as one of the top hubs for digital scams and fraud. With over 25 lakh incidents reported in 2025 alone, network providers like Airtel and Jio are resorting to AI-based safeguard solutions. One such instance is Airtel's Fraud Alert tool, which aims to prevent OPT-based scams at the grassroots level.

Airtel's latest 'Fraud Alert' feature is a digital barrier between scammers and victims

In an official press report, Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of 'Fraud Alert' feature in India. This addition is part of the telecom operator's AI-based spam detection network and is implemented at the M2M network level.

The new system specifically targets OTP-based scams by alerting customers of potential OTP frauds. It works in real-time by sending an alert prompt during calls. Once the AI-based system detects the demand for OTP from a suspicious caller, the person on the other end will receive an instant alert.

It will make the smartphone vibrate to alert the user of the incoming risk message. The caller at the other end will not be notified of such barriers. The system will then ask the person to manually approve the sharing of OTP before they can proceed with the call.

This not only prevents the accidental sharing of OTP messages but also helps to flag and let the user know of potential scammers. It is important to note that currently, the Fraud Alert system only works during the sharing of banking OTPs during an active call.

Airtel has confirmed that the system will also detect other forms of OTPs in the coming days for an expansive OTP scam detection, prevention and elimination process. At the time of writing, Fraud Alert is live for Airtel users in Haryana, India. The telco operator has confirmed a nationwide rollout in the upcoming days. Users will not be required to enrol or download any additional app to take advantage of Fraud Alert.