NEW DELHI: Govt Monday asked people to verify their mobile connections through the Sanchar Saathi Portal (http://www.sancharsaathi.gov.in), which allows them to check all numbers issued in their name and block those that are unnecessary or not genuinely theirs. The advice from the dept of telecom (DoT) came after a cybercrime probe led to a point of sale for SIM cards in Chhattisgarh where the agent 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 (agent), preventing it from issuing mobile connections (SIMs) in the future. These 25 mobile connections were examined.. Numbers failing re-verification were deactivated,” DoT said in a statement.It reiterated 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 Rs 50 lakh.”“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 (http://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,” it added.Misuse of SIMs, telecommunication identifiers, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of mobile devices “has emerged as a matter of serious concern” with the rapid expansion of mobile connectivity and digital services across India.

“Citizens can access various services available under Sanchar Saathi 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,” it said.