12:00 PM IST – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a landmark Direction that will completely change how banks and financial companies call their customers. Starting January to March 2026, almost all entities regulated by RBI, SEBI and PFRDA will be required to make customer calls only from the new “1600” numbering series.
Unlike today’s random and regular 10-digit numbers that anyone can misuse or commit fraud, the new ‘1600’ series gives banks and financial institutions a verified identity card. It is making customer calls safer and instantly recognisable.
As per the Ministry of Communications PIB Press release, TRAI’s main goal is simple:
- Help people feel safer
- Reduce fraud done through fake “bank calling” numbers
- Give a trusted ID to genuine financial institutions
Today, scammers easily mimic banks because they call from normal mobile numbers. The 1600-series fixes this problem by giving financial institutions a unique, verified number range that fraudsters cannot access.
Who Has to Shift & By When (Deadline)
| Regulator | Entities | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| RBI | Commercial Banks | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Large NBFCs, Payments Banks, Small Finance Banks | 1 Feb 2026 | |
| Remaining NBFCs, Co-op Banks, RRBs | 1 Mar 2026 | |
| SEBI | Mutual Funds & AMCs | 15 Feb 2026 |
| Qualified Stockbrokers (QSBs) | 15 Mar 2026 | |
| PFRDA | CRAs & Pension Fund Managers | 15 Feb 2026 |
| IRDAI | Insurance Sector | Deadline coming soon |
So, from early 2026, if your bank or investment firm is calling, you will clearly see a number beginning with 1600.
Why This Matters for Everyone
To understand the benefit, imagine these two situations:
Unlike this:
A call from 9820XXXXXX claiming to be your bank → you feel confused, unsure.
Unlike that:
A call from 1600 2XX XXX labelled as your bank → instantly trustworthy.
This is what TRAI wants:
- Clear identity
- Zero confusion
- Stronger protection
- Fewer scam victims
The 1600-series will work along with TRAI’s existing ‘140’ series, which is already used for promotional/telemarketing calls. Together, these help consumers identify:
- ✔ promotional calls (140)
- ✔ genuine financial service calls (1600)
Why This Move Became Necessary — The Fraud Problem
India continues to face a massive challenge with social engineering and call-based financial scams.
Overall Bank Fraud Statistics (FY25)
- Total fraud cases: 23,953
- Total value involved: ₹36,014 crore
- Most common cases: Digital payments (card/internet)
- Highest value loss: Loan-related frauds
(RBI Annual Report)
Trend in Phone-Call Frauds
Even though the RBI does not list “phone call fraud” as a separate category, police and cybercrime records show that fake call scams are rising every year.
Some recent examples:
- A Kolkata woman lost ₹78 lakh in a “digital arrest” scam (Nov 2025).
- An elderly man lost ₹4.2 lakh after calling a fake “PhonePe customer care” number (Hyderabad, July 2025). source: thehindu
These scams work only because callers use common mobile numbers, making it hard for customers to distinguish between real and fake institutions.
The 1600-series directly targets this problem.
From 2026 onward, if your bank, NBFC, mutual fund, or stockbroker calls you, the number will always start with 1600 — giving you instant clarity on who is calling.
- Safer calls.
- Fewer scams.
- Stronger trust.
