How a Single Letter at the End of a Message Can Save You from Scammers: TRAI’s Smart Code to Beat Fraud
New Delhi/Shimla
In a digital world swarming with spam, scams, and cyber cheats, a single letter at the end of a message could be your shield. Yes, just one alphabet can tell you whether the message in your inbox is from your bank, a government department, a verified service provider—or a scamster trying to rob you blind.
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), the country’s telecom watchdog, has come up with a smart solution to protect the public from fraudsters.
Under new norms, every SMS sent by a registered entity—be it a bank, government body, service provider or marketing agency—must now carry a coded letter at the end.
Here’s how to read the message like a pro:
S: Service message (from your mobile operator, airline, etc.)
T: Transactional message (from your bank or wallet confirming a transaction)
G: Government message (from a verified government department)
P: Promotional message (ads and offers from companies)
And here's the golden rule—if a message has no code (no S, T, G, or P at the end), be alert. It could be a scam. Do not click any links, do not share any OTPs or personal details, and immediately block and report the sender as spam.
Some may wonder: Can scammers not fake these codes?
The answer is no. TRAI has made it mandatory for legitimate senders to register with its DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platform, and every message they send is verified. If someone tries to misuse these codes, they can be traced and penalized.
The system is fool-proof for now—and designed to empower you, the common citizen. So next time you get an SMS, look at the last letter before you take any action.
As digital and cyber crimes rise day by day, this small awareness can protect your money, your identity, and your peace of mind. Share this with others—it could save someone from getting scammed.
