Your SIM could get you in trouble: Govt warns against lending, selling or muling numbers

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday cautioned citizens against fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers, saying violations can attract up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.

The advisory follows recent cybercrime investigations in which a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 mobile connections using identification documents of citizens without their knowledge or consent, the DoT said on Monday.

The DoT Madhya Pradesh Licensed Service Area (LSA) and telecom service providers subsequently blacklisted the agent, preventing it from issuing mobile connections in future.

The 25 mobile connections were examined on the department's Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), and those found suspicious were subjected to re-verification.

Numbers that failed the re-verification process were subsequently deactivated, the department said.

The DoT said fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers are punishable offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

"Such violations may attract imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to ₹50 lakh," it said.

The department advised citizens not to share or transfer SIM cards issued in their names, warning that legal liability could extend to the original subscriber if a SIM is misused.

Citizens have also been advised to regularly check mobile connections issued in their names through the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application.

The Sanchar Saathi platform allows users to view mobile numbers issued in their name and block numbers that are unnecessary or not theirs.

The department also cautioned citizens against using, procuring or assembling devices such as modems, modules and SIM boxes with configurable or tampered IMEI numbers.

It advised against obtaining SIM cards using fake documents, fraud, cheating or impersonation, as well as transferring, selling or handing over SIM cards registered in their names to others.

The department said procuring SIM cards in one's own name and subsequently loaning, renting or "muling" them for use in cyber fraud or other unlawful activities could result in legal liability for the original subscriber.

The IMEI of a mobile handset can also be checked through the Sanchar Saathi platform using its "Check Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset" facility.

The service provides details including the brand, model and manufacturer associated with a device.

The DoT urged citizens to remain vigilant and use the services available through the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile app to verify and secure their mobile connections and handsets.