The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has identified a threat group known as “Royal Tiger,” led by Prince Jashvantlal Anand and Kaushal Bhavsar, that specializes in making robocalls and impersonating government agencies [5], banks [2] [4] [5], and businesses to deceive victims with fake credit card offers [5].
Description
The group uses AI voice cloning technology to create convincing scam calls and has been classified by the FCC as Consumer Communications Information Services Threats (CCISTs) for the first time. Operating internationally [4], with members in India, the UK [2] [4] [5], the UAE [2] [5], and the US [2] [4] [5], Royal Tiger has utilized multiple US companies for their illegal activities. The group has been routing their fraudulent calls through Great Choice Telecom LLC, controlled by John Spiller [1], who has been subject to a significant Forfeiture Order [1]. The FCC has taken action against some entities involved [1], issuing a Robocall Blocking Order and Cease and Desist Letter to combat the threat posed by Royal Tiger. Prince Jashvantlal Anand [1] [2] [3] [4] [5], also known as “Frank Murphy” in the UAE and India, has ties to companies in the US [2], UK [2] [4] [5], and India [2] [4]. An example call transcript reveals threats of legal action and prompts victims to press 1 for more information [2], showcasing the deceptive tactics employed by the group. As AI technology advances [4], the FCC warns that fraudulent robocalls will become more sophisticated and dangerous, with threat actors using voice phishing and deepfake technology to defraud victims [4]. The FCC is working with global partners to address these threats and safeguard consumers and networks from harm, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts to combat malicious actors in the communications space.
Conclusion
The FCC’s actions against Royal Tiger highlight the impact of fraudulent robocalls on consumers and the importance of combating such threats. As technology evolves, the FCC is working to stay ahead of malicious actors and protect consumers from increasingly sophisticated scams. Collaborative efforts with global partners are crucial in addressing these challenges and ensuring the security of communication networks.
References
[1] https://www.wiley.law/alert-Voice-Providers-Should-Take-Note-of-FCCs-New-C-CIST-Designation-for-Actors-Posing-a-Significant-Threat-to-Communications-Services
[2] https://ciso2ciso.com/fcc-reveals-aposroyal-tigerapos-robocall-campaign-source-www-darkreading-com/
[3] https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/hotforsecurity/us-fcc-exposes-first-ai-robocall-crew-dubbed-royal-tiger/
[4] https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/fcc-deems-royal-tiger-robocall-campaign-a-communications-threat
[5] https://www.ithome.com.tw/news/162910
