DoT Cautions Against Fraudulent SIM Cards, Telecom Identifier Misuse, and IMEI Tampering

Ø Misuse May Attract Up to Three Years’ Imprisonment and ₹50 Lakh Fine

Ø Citizens advised to use the Sanchar Saathi Portal and Mobile App to verify and secure their mobile connections and handsets

· Penalties for Misuse: Fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers, or IMEI tampering can attract up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

· Recent Enforcement Action: DoT and Telecom Service Providers blacklisted a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh for illegally activating 25 mobile connections using citizens' identification documents without consent; suspicious numbers were re-verified and deactivated via the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP).

· Key Warnings for Citizens:

o Avoid procuring SIMs through fake documents, impersonation, or for muling/renting out.

o Refrain from sharing, selling, or transferring SIM cards issued in your name to others.

o Do not use modems, SIM boxes, or devices with configurable or tampered IMEI numbers, nor applications/websites modifying Calling Line Identity (CLI).

· Sanchar Saathi Portal & App: Citizens should regularly verify and secure their mobile connections and devices using the Sanchar Saathi Portal or mobile app.

· Mobile Genuineness Check: The Sanchar Saathi platform allows users to verify handset IMEI details (brand, model, manufacturer).

· Official Mobile App Links:

o Android: Google Play Store Link

o iOS: Apple App Store Link

[ABS News Service/21.09.2026]

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Madhya Pradesh (MP) LSA, has taken firm action against fraudulent SIM issuance. Recent cybercrime investigations have brought to light some instances in which a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 mobile connections (SIMs) using citizens’ identification documents without their knowledge or consent.

Following this, the DoT and Telecom Service Providers immediately blacklisted the concerned PoS, preventing it from issuing mobile connections (SIMs) in the future. These 25 mobile connections were examined on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) of the DoT, and those identified as suspicious were subjected to re-verification. Numbers failing re-verification were subsequently deactivated.

DoT’s Advisory

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reiterates that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers, or tampering with IMEI numbers is a punishable offence under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Such violations may attract imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to ₹50 lakh. Compliance with the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the rules framed thereunder is essential for preventing telecom-related fraud, protecting citizens and ensuring a safe, secure and trusted telecommunication environment.

Citizens are cautioned not to share or transfer SIM cards issued in their name, as legal liability may extend to the original subscriber if the SIM is found to be misused. To safeguard themselves, citizens are advised to regularly verify their mobile connections through the Sanchar Saathi Portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) and Mobile App. The platform enables users to check all mobile numbers issued in their name and block those that are unnecessary or not genuinely theirs. These measures are significant to prevent misuse of telecom resources in cyber frauds and to ensure a safe and secure communication environment. With the rapid expansion of mobile connectivity and digital services across India, the misuse of SIMs, telecommunication identifiers, including the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of mobile devices, has emerged as a matter of serious concern. Such misuse can compromise the safety of citizens and pose risks to the security and integrity of telecommunication networks. The Government of India has put in place stringent legal provisions to prevent tampering with and misuse of unique telecommunication identifiers.

What Citizens Should Avoid

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) advises citizens to refrain from:

· Using, procuring or assembling devices such as modems, modules, SIM Boxes or other equipment with configurable or tampered IMEIs;

· Procuring SIM cards through fake documents, fraud, cheating or impersonation;

· Transferring, selling or handing over SIM cards obtained in their name to others who may misuse them;

· Using mobile applications, websites or any other means to modify Calling Line Identity (CLI) or other telecommunication identifiers;

· Procuring SIM cards in their own name and subsequently loaning, renting or muling of SIM for misuse in cyber fraud or any other unlawful activity, that may result in legal liability for the original subscriber; and

· Using devices with tampered IMEI numbers, obtaining SIM cards through fraudulent means, or transferring SIM cards to persons who misuse them and can have serious legal consequences.

Verification and Reporting through Sanchar Saathi

The Government has put in place robust measures to prevent the misuse of telecommunication resources and strengthen the safety and security of India's telecommunications ecosystem. Citizens can access various services available under the Sanchar Saathi initiative to verify and protect their mobile connections and devices. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and make use of the digital tools available through the Sanchar Saathi initiative to verify and secure their mobile handsets.

The IMEI details of a mobile handset can be verified through the Sanchar Saathi platform by using Check Genuineness of Your Mobile handset facility. The service enables citizens to check details such as the brand name, model name and manufacturer information associated with the device.

Citizens are encouraged to visit the Sanchar Saathi Portal at www.sancharsaathi.gov.in or download the Sanchar Saathi Mobile App to access the various citizen-centric services available on the platform.

For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dot.app.sancharsaathi

For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/sancharsaathi/id6739700695