Pune District Supply Officer, Dinesh Taware, has issued a public advisory urging citizens to refrain from sharing their mobile numbers at shopping malls, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. The warning comes in response to increasing cases of cyber extortion, where phone numbers linked to bank accounts are being exploited.
In a statement released on Monday, Taware emphasized that sharing personal contact information without an individual’s consent is a criminal offense. He noted that many commercial establishments collect customer phone numbers, often to build databases, but these details are sometimes leaked to cybercriminals, leading to extortion attempts.
The statement further highlighted that any establishment found guilty of sharing customer phone numbers without consent could face legal consequences under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Penalties include up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
Authorities, including the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, have repeatedly issued advisories to the public, stressing the importance of safeguarding personal information and urging them not to share mobile numbers with commercial entities unless absolutely necessary.