DoT blacklists PoS agent over 25 fraudulent SIM activations

MUMBAI: The SIM card may fit in the palm of a hand, but the trouble it can trigger can be anything but small, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) taking action after a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh illegally activated 25 mobile connections using citizens’ identification documents without their knowledge or consent.

The action was initiated by the DoT Madhya Pradesh Licence Service Area (MP LSA) following findings that emerged during recent cybercrime investigations. The concerned PoS agent has since been blacklisted by the DoT and telecom service providers, preventing it from issuing mobile connections in the future.

The 25 connections were subsequently examined through the DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP). Numbers identified as suspicious were put through re-verification, with those failing the process subsequently deactivated.

The DoT has also reiterated that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers are punishable offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Such violations can attract imprisonment of up to three years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh, according to the department. The DoT said compliance with the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the rules framed under it is essential to prevent telecom-related fraud and protect the security of communication networks.

The department has also warned consumers that a SIM registered in their name should not be casually handed over to someone else. If a connection is subsequently misused, the original subscriber could face legal liability.

To help consumers keep tabs on their connections, the government has directed them towards the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile app. The service allows users to check mobile numbers issued in their name and block connections that are unnecessary or do not belong to them.

The advisory also covers devices and telecom identifiers. Citizens have been asked to avoid using, procuring or assembling equipment such as modems, modules and SIM Boxes with configurable or tampered IMEIs. They have also been cautioned against obtaining SIM cards through fake documents, fraud, cheating or impersonation.

The DoT has further warned against transferring, selling or handing over SIM cards issued in one’s name to another person, as well as loaning, renting or ‘muling’ SIMs for cyber fraud or other unlawful activities.

Consumers have also been advised against using applications, websites or other means to modify Calling Line Identity (CLI) or other telecommunication identifiers, or using devices with tampered IMEI numbers.

Alongside enforcement, Sanchar Saathi provides tools for consumers to verify their mobile devices. Its ‘Check Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset’ facility allows users to verify information linked to a handset, including its brand, model and manufacturer.

The department said the measures are aimed at preventing the misuse of telecom resources as mobile connectivity and digital services expand across India. The focus is not only on stopping fraudulent SIM issuance but also on ensuring that telecom identifiers and devices are not turned into tools for cybercrime.

Citizens have been encouraged to regularly check their mobile connections and handset details through the Sanchar Saathi portal or mobile app, giving them a way to spot unwanted connections before a SIM-related problem turns into a much bigger headache.