Bharti Airtel has announced what could be one of its most focused upgrades to customer security in recent years. The telecom operator today unveiled a new artificial intelligence driven system designed to protect users from bank fraud involving One-Time Passwords, commonly known as OTPs.
This feature zeroes in on a very specific, and unfortunately common, scam tactic where fraudsters persuade people to share sensitive OTP codes during live phone calls. It is not a broad or vague security promise. Instead, it addresses a very particular weak point in digital transactions, the human moment of hesitation or panic.
Perhaps that focus is what makes it interesting.
Key Takeaways
- Real-time Protection: The system detects when a customer receives a banking OTP while simultaneously being on a call flagged as potentially fraudulent.
- Automatic Alert: If the system identifies this risky overlap, Airtel instantly sends a warning advising the user not to share the code.
- No App Required: This protection works entirely at the network level. There is no need to download or install any additional application.
- Current Availability: The feature is currently active in Haryana and is expected to roll out to all Airtel customers across India within the next two weeks.
Closing the Gap on Voice Phishing Scams
Financial fraud in India continues to rely heavily on what cybersecurity professionals call “social engineering.” In practice, this usually means a scammer calling a victim while pretending to be a bank official, delivery executive, or service provider. They often create urgency. There may be talk of a blocked account, a failed delivery, or a suspicious transaction that needs immediate approval.
Under that pressure, people sometimes share an OTP without fully thinking it through. And once that OTP is shared, the fraud is essentially authorized by the victim themselves.
Airtel’s new AI system attempts to step into this exact moment. The technology monitors network-level activity and looks for patterns commonly associated with fraudulent calls. If a user receives a banking OTP during a call that the system has identified as “risky,” the network triggers an immediate alert.
In a way, the alert acts as a pause button. It interrupts the flow of manipulation. It reminds the customer that sharing the code could directly result in financial loss. That small interruption, even a few seconds of awareness, may be enough to prevent a mistake.
Leadership Perspective on Network-Level Security
According to Shashwat Sharma, Managing Director and CEO of Airtel India, the company’s broader goal is to build what he describes as the safest network possible for its subscribers. He acknowledged that while OTPs remain a fundamental part of digital security frameworks, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in bypassing them through psychological tactics.
Sharma explained that this new solution operates proactively. Instead of waiting for a complaint or a reported fraud, the system intervenes during the critical transaction window. By breaking the scammer’s momentum, it gives customers time to reassess the situation and verify the caller’s identity before taking any action.
It is, in essence, a behavioral defense layered on top of technical security.
Building on Airtel’s Existing AI Safeguards
This announcement is not happening in isolation. Over the past two years, Bharti Airtel has introduced multiple AI-driven tools aimed at reducing spam calls and blocking malicious links delivered through SMS.
Those measures reportedly reduced nuisance communication significantly. However, voice-based fraud has remained harder to tackle. Unlike spam messages, live conversations involve persuasion, tone, and psychological pressure. Technology alone cannot fully control that dynamic, which may be why this new system focuses on timing and pattern correlation rather than just blocking calls outright.
By correlating real-time call data with SMS delivery events, Airtel is targeting the precise moment where fraud typically occurs. According to the company, extensive trials of the system demonstrated high accuracy in detecting and preventing OTP-related scams. While exact performance metrics were not disclosed, the operator maintains that the technology has been rigorously tested before launch.
Rollout Timeline and Availability
The service is already operational for subscribers in the Haryana telecom circle. Airtel has stated that the rollout will expand nationwide over the next two weeks, covering 100 percent of its user base across India.
Since this is a network-side enhancement, activation happens automatically. Customers do not need to enable settings, update software, or complete any verification process. The protection is embedded within the Airtel network infrastructure itself.
That simplicity may actually be one of its strongest advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do I activate the Airtel fraud alert system?
A1: You do not need to activate anything. The feature is integrated directly into the Airtel network and works automatically for all subscribers.
Q2: Does this feature work without the Airtel Thanks app?
A2: Yes. Because the solution operates at the network level, it functions independently of any mobile application, including the Airtel Thanks app.
Q3: Will Airtel read my personal SMS messages?
A3: Airtel uses artificial intelligence to detect the category of a message, such as identifying whether it contains a banking OTP, and to analyze its timing in relation to a suspicious call. The system focuses on metadata and risk patterns rather than accessing or using personal message content for unrelated purposes.
Q4: Is there a charge for this fraud protection service?
A4: At the time of announcement, Airtel has not disclosed any additional charges for this safety feature. It is being positioned as part of the company’s standard network security framework.
