Airtel CEO's Bold Move: Second Account for Fraud Protection

Bharti Airtel's vice-chairman and managing director, Gopal Vittal, has initiated a proactive measure to protect its vast customer base from escalating digital fraud. He is urging over 390 million customers to establish a secondary account with Airtel Payments Bank, suggesting it as a secure alternative for digital transactions. This strategy aims to insulate primary savings accounts, which typically hold significant funds and are frequently linked to payment apps and UPI handles, from potential financial cybercrimes.

Vittal explained that the Airtel Payments Bank model is designed for payments, requiring only small balances and offering interest on deposits. By channeling transactions through this secondary account, customers minimize the risk of losing substantial savings even if they fall victim to a scam or make an error. This advice comes at a critical juncture, with digital users facing an increasing barrage of ingenious scams, fake alerts, and fraudulent enticements.

In parallel, Airtel has bolstered its defenses by rolling out new safety features. These include an AI-powered service that provides instant alerts for spam calls and messages, alongside the capability to block fraudulent links, even if accidentally clicked. Airtel Payments Bank, launched in January 2017 and now a scheduled bank since January 2022, serves over 155 million users, with more than 100 million actively transacting monthly.