The Department of Telecommunications has warned mobile users against allowing SIM cards issued in their names to be used by others, saying fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers can carry serious legal consequences.
The warning also asks subscribers to regularly check mobile connections registered against their identity and report numbers they do not recognise.
Why Has the Government Issued the Warning?
The warning follows a cybercrime investigation in Chhattisgarh in which a Point of Sale agent allegedly activated 25 mobile connections using citizens’ identity documents without their knowledge or consent.
After the case was detected, the Department of Telecommunications and telecom service providers blacklisted the PoS agent, preventing the agent from issuing further SIM cards. The 25 connections were also examined through the department’s Digital Intelligence Platform.
Connections considered suspicious were sent for re-verification. Numbers that failed the verification process were subsequently deactivated.
The case highlighted a risk for mobile subscribers because a connection can potentially be obtained using a person’s identity documents without that person being aware of it.
What Penalties Can SIM Misuse Attract?
The department has cautioned that fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and related violations can lead to legal action.
Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, such violations may attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
The warning is also relevant for people who knowingly hand over SIM cards registered in their own names. The department has cautioned that legal liability may extend to the original subscriber if the connection is later misused.
Users have therefore been advised not to treat a SIM registered in their name as something that can simply be transferred, rented or loaned to another person.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
What SIM Practices Should Users Avoid?
Citizens have been advised against obtaining SIM cards through fake documents, fraud, cheating or impersonation. Selling, transferring or handing over a SIM registered in one person’s name to somebody else who may misuse it should also be avoided.
The department has specifically warned against obtaining a SIM in one’s own name and then loaning, renting or using it as a “mule SIM” for cyber fraud or other unlawful activities.
Such arrangements can expose the person in whose name the connection was originally issued to legal consequences if the SIM is subsequently linked to illegal activity.
The warning underlines the importance of keeping control of connections registered against personal identity documents rather than allowing them to be operated by unknown or unauthorised individuals.
Why Are IMEI Numbers Also a Concern?
The advisory extends beyond SIM cards to devices and telecom identifiers. Users have been cautioned against equipment such as modems, SIM boxes or other devices with configurable or tampered IMEI numbers.
They have also been advised against using applications, websites or other tools to modify Calling Line Identity or other telecom identifiers.
The International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, is an identifier associated with a mobile device. Misuse or tampering with telecom identifiers can create risks for individual users as well as the security and integrity of telecom networks.
How Can Users Check SIMs Issued in Their Name?
Mobile users can use the government’s Sanchar Saathi platform and mobile application to check the mobile numbers issued in their name.
If a connection appears that the user does not recognise or no longer requires, the service allows the person to identify it and seek its blocking.
Regularly reviewing these connections is particularly important because a person may otherwise remain unaware that a mobile number has been obtained using their identity documents.
The government has advised users to carry out such checks periodically instead of waiting until an unfamiliar connection is linked to suspicious activity.
The warning also makes it important to periodically review mobile numbers linked to your identity. The420.in has explained the process in a separate step-by-step guide.
https://the420.in/tafcop-check-sims-registered-in-your-name-online/
How Can Users Verify a Mobile Handset?
Sanchar Saathi also provides a facility called “Check Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset,” which can be used to verify IMEI-related information about a device.
The facility can provide information linked to a handset, including its brand, model and manufacturer details.
Users have been advised to verify handset information when there is doubt about a device’s authenticity. Together with checking connections registered in their name, handset verification is presented as another safeguard against telecom-related misuse.
Why Does Regular Verification Matter?
A SIM connection issued in a person’s name can potentially be misused even when that person is not the one operating it.
The discovery of 25 connections allegedly activated without the affected citizens’ knowledge shows why subscribers need to know exactly which numbers are linked to their identity.
The warning places responsibility on users to protect their identity documents, retain control over SIM cards issued in their names and periodically review linked connections.
Checking unfamiliar numbers through Sanchar Saathi and verifying questionable handsets can help users identify possible misuse before it creates wider telecom, cyber-fraud or legal risks.
The420 Takeaway: Your Name, Your SIM, Your Responsibility
A SIM registered with your identity can create serious problems if it ends up in the wrong hands. The discovery of 25 connections allegedly activated without users’ knowledge shows why checking linked numbers should become a routine digital-safety habit.
Know every connection issued in your name, report unfamiliar numbers quickly and keep control of your SIM cards and identity documents.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
