DoT Cracks Down on SIM Fraud, Warns of Jail and ₹50 Lakh Fine

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has cautioned citizens against fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers, stating that such offences are punishable under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 with imprisonment of up to three years and fines reaching ₹50 lakh.

The warning follows a cybercrime investigation in which a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 mobile connections using citizens' identification documents without their knowledge or consent. Acting on the findings, the DoT and telecom service providers blacklisted the agent, barring it from issuing mobile connections in future.

The 25 connections were examined on the DoT's Digital Intelligence Platform, and those flagged as suspicious were sent for re-verification. Numbers that failed re-verification were deactivated.

Legal liability for subscribers

The department has cautioned citizens against sharing or transferring SIM cards issued in their name, noting that legal liability may extend to the original subscriber if the SIM is later misused. It advised people to periodically check all mobile numbers registered against their identity through the Sanchar Saathi portal or mobile app, and to block connections that are unnecessary or not genuinely theirs.

What citizens should avoid

The DoT has asked citizens to refrain from:

• Using, procuring or assembling devices such as modems, modules or SIM boxes with configurable or tampered IMEIs;
• Obtaining SIM cards through fake documents, fraud, cheating or impersonation;
• Transferring, selling or handing over SIM cards issued in their name to others;
• Using apps, websites or other means to alter Calling Line Identity or other telecom identifiers;
• Procuring SIM cards in their own name and then loaning, renting or muling them for cyber fraud or other unlawful activity; and
• Using handsets with tampered IMEI numbers.

Verification tools

Citizens can verify the IMEI details of a handset through the "Check Genuineness of Your Mobile handset" facility on Sanchar Saathi, which displays information such as the brand, model and manufacturer of the device. The portal is available at www.sancharsaathi.gov.in, and the mobile app can be downloaded on Android and iOS.

The department said compliance with the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and its rules is essential to prevent telecom-related fraud and to maintain a safe, secure and trusted communication environment, particularly as mobile connectivity and digital services expand across the country.