Indosat flags 290 million spam calls in 3 months

Its AI-driven system has shielded 11.5 million customers a month from fraud.

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has identified 290 million risky calls and flagged 90 million suspicious messages within three months of rolling out its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven anti-spam and -scam system, marking one of Indonesia’s biggest telecommunication-led efforts to counter digital fraud.

The feature, launched on 7 August, has shielded an average of 11.5 million customers a month by detecting malicious activity before damage occurs. Indosat said the system forms part of its broader AIvolusi5G strategy, which integrates AI into its 5G network to improve safety and reliability.

“The rise of digital scams has made protection a necessity, not an option,” Bilal Khazmi, director and chief commercial officer at Indosat, told Asian Telecom. “This feature was built to give users peace of mind—to let them connect, communicate, and transact without fear.”

The system operates at the network level, removing the need for separate apps or hardware. It screens and flags suspicious communications before they reach Indosat subscribers.

Two in three adults faced fraud attempts in the past year, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance said in a recent report. About 14% suffered financial losses totalling $2.9b (IDR 49t), while more than half reported emotional stress after being targeted.

“Behind every data point is a person who lost not just money, but also confidence in the digital world,” Khazmi said in an emailed reply to questions. “We see it as our responsibility to rebuild that trust through intelligent, proactive protection.”

The tool issues early warnings even when it can’t fully block a threat, giving users time to avoid financial harm.
“Our goal is not only to stop threats but to make people more aware of how scams work,” Khazmi said. “Awareness is the first defense. Technology is the second.”

The company applies a zero-trust approach, verifying all activity rather than assuming legitimacy. Alongside its technical measures, Indosat is expanding digital literacy efforts to help users identify scams before they engage.

Under Indosat’s IM3 brand, protection is offered in two versions—one that is activated automatically for prepaid users, and another that adds URL risk detection. Under the Tri brand, customers receive anti-spam and -scam alerts that use a colour-coded system—turquoise for safe numbers, yellow for unknown callers, and red for high-risk contacts. Users of both brands can access broader protections through the myIM3 and bima+ apps.

“This is about democratizing safety,” Khazmi said. “You don’t need a premium phone or expensive service to stay protected. Every customer, regardless of what device they use,  deserves the same level of security.”

Indosat sees the AI feature as central to its broader mission to build trust in digital services as online fraud grows more sophisticated. “Connectivity should empower, not endanger,” Khazmi said. “We’re building a network that protects people as much as it connects them.”