Department of Telecommunications Cautions Citizens against fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers, or tampering with IMEI numbers

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued an advisory cautioning citizens against the fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers, and tampering with IMEI numbers under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Violations can lead to imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to ₹50 lakh. Highlighting a recent case in Chhattisgarh where a Point of Sale agent illegally activated SIM cards using citizens' identification documents, the DoT emphasizes that original subscribers can bear legal liability if their cards are misused. Citizens are urged to use the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application to check connections issued in their name, verify mobile handset IMEI details, and report suspicious activities.