Pune(S.N): Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”) has announced significant progress in its mission to protect customers in Maharashtra and Goa from rising online frauds. As part of the nationwide rollout of its AI-powered fraud detection system, Airtel has successfully safeguarded more than 2 lakh customers across the states of Maharashtra and Goa— within just 36 days of launching its advanced fraud detection system.

Automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband customers, the advanced system scans and filters links across SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, E-mail and other browsers. It leverages real-time threat intelligence to examine over 1 billion URLs daily and blocks access to harmful sites in under 100 milliseconds.

For instance, if a resident in Pune receives a suspicious message that reads: “Your package is delayed. Track it here: http://www.tracky0urparcell.com”. And if the unsuspecting resident, then clicks on the link, Airtel’s system also clicks into gear. It instantly scans the link and if flagged as suspicious, it blocks access. The user is redirected to a warning message that reads: “Blocked! Airtel found this site dangerous!” All this instantaneously. This real-time interception prevents users from falling victim to all kinds of frauds.

Commenting on the initiative, George Mathen, CEO – Maharashtra and Goa, Bharti Airtel, said “At Airtel, our commitment lies in protecting customers from all varieties of fraud. By merging our network with an AI-based fraud detection solution, we are making certain that our customers are defended against all emerging threats without requiring any effort on their part. We believe it is imperative to take steps today to secure the digital future, and we are proud to be pioneers in this field by providing a comprehensive and safer network for our customers in Maharashtra and Goa.”

With Maharashtra and Goa ranked as one of India’s most digitally advanced states, the threat of online fraud has grown in both its urban and rural regions. Fraudsters increasingly target users through phishing links, fake deliveries and spurious banking alerts. Cities like Satara, Nashik, Amravati, Ahilyanagar, Chandrapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Akola — as well as remote towns like Jamgaon, Ghoti, Sultanpur, Tippeshwar among others— have seen a sharp rise in such fraudulent attempts. Airtel’s solution acts as a statewide digital shield, protecting families, senior citizens, homemakers, students and first-time smartphone users alike.

The AI-driven platform delivers fraud warnings in the user’s preferred language, including Marathi, making it highly effective for the state’s diverse population. This multilingual support is especially impactful in districts with low digital literacy or where English is not widely used.

The solution operates silently in the background, requires no installation and is offered free of cost. Maharashtra and Goa at the forefront of digital adoption — from online banking to government e-services — and Airtel’s initiative plays a critical role in creating a safer digital ecosystem across the state. Whether it’s a working professional in Satara, a homemaker in Nashik, a tourist in Goa, or a student in Ahilyanagar, Airtel helps make every digital interaction safer.