Pariksha SaathiDoT cautions citizens against SIM fraud and IMEI tampering
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reminded citizens that fraudulently obtaining or issuing SIM cards, misusing telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers are offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which can lead to imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both. It came after DoT's Madhya Pradesh licensed service area acted on a case in which a Chhattisgarh-based Point of Sale (PoS) agent had illegally activated 25 mobile connections using citizens' identity documents without their knowledge or consent. The agent was blacklisted, and connections flagged as suspicious on DoT's Digital Intelligence Platform that then failed re-verification were deactivated. People were told not to use or assemble SIM boxes, modems or modules whose IMEIs are configurable or tampered, not to obtain SIMs through fake documents or impersonation, not to alter Calling Line Identity through apps or websites, and not to lend, rent or sell SIMs issued in their name, since liability can fall on the original subscriber. DoT recommended the Sanchar Saathi portal and app as the way to see every number registered in one's name, block those not recognised, and check a handset's genuineness through its IMEI.
Drafted with AI assistance from a live web search; a second AI pass confirmed the official link above and checked a sample of the facts against it. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
The Telecommunications Act, 2023 (No. 44 of 2023) received the President's assent on 24 December 2023, and its Section 60 repeals the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. Section 42(3) lists offences that include tampering with telecommunication identifiers and obtaining SIMs or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating or personation; each is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both.
Reference: Gazette text of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (copy hosted by TRAI)
Check yourself: does the Act make three years' jail and a ₹50 lakh fine compulsory for every such offence?
No. Section 42(3) says imprisonment up to three years, or a fine up to ₹50 lakh, or both. These are maximum limits, and the court may impose either or both.
Revision task: match each 'do not' in DoT's advisory to the Section 42(3) clause it relates to, for example tampered IMEIs to 'tampers with telecommunication identifiers' and fake-document SIMs to 'obtains SIMs through fraud, cheating or personation'.
Test yourself
Under which Act can fraudulent SIM issuance and IMEI tampering attract up to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, per DoT's September 2026 advisory?
Show the answer
Answer: Telecommunications Act, 2023
The Department of Telecommunications cited the Telecommunications Act, 2023 in its advisory against SIM fraud and IMEI tampering.
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