Indians Swarmed Free WhatsApp Service But Now Feel It’s A Spam Factory

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – Meta-owned WhatsApp has become a spam factory as more than one in two Indians now say that they are facing four or more spam messages each day, a report showed on October 12.

Consumers face unwanted calls, SMS (short messaging services) and WhatsApp messages from vendors, telemarketers, banks, insurance brokers, car dealers, pathology labs, property, and other investment agents, among others.

About 68 percent mobile subscribers, on average, receive 4 or more promotional or spam SMSs every day with every subscriber surveyed getting spam, according to the online community platform Local Circles.

About 95 percent of WhatsApp subscribers surveyed got spam while every mobile subscriber surveyed got it.

Financial services, real estate services, and pathology services are top sectors sending spam SMS as well as spam WhatsApp, indicating the same offenders are now spamming using both channels.

77 percent of mobile subscribers surveyed want the government to do something about it.  

There were reports that India’s Department of Telecommunication (DOT) has decided to levy fines ranging from Rs 1,000 per violation for zero-10 breaches, Rs 5,000 each for 10-50 violations, and Rs 10,000 each for more than 50 violations by registered telemarketers.

However, the telecom authority has not issued any notification in this regard.