Department of Telecommunications Warns of ₹50 Lakh Fine and Jail for Fraudulent SIM Issuance

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications has issued a comprehensive security advisory warning citizens and vendors against fraudulent SIM card issuance, tampering with IMEI numbers, and misuse of telecommunication identifiers. Addressing the growing challenge of digital fraud, the government reiterated that such offenses carry severe legal consequences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, including up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching ₹50 lakh. The advisory was prompted by a recent cybercrime investigation conducted by the DoT Madhya Pradesh Licensed Service Area. The probe uncovered that a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh illegally activated 25 mobile connections using citizens' identity documents without their knowledge or consent. Following the discovery, the DoT and telecom service providers immediately blacklisted the agent, while the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) was utilized to re-verify and deactivate the fraudulent numbers. To mitigate ongoing telecom risks, the government cautioned citizens against sharing or transferring SIM cards issued in their name, noting that legal liability may extend to original subscribers if a SIM is misused. The DoT advised the public to regularly audit their active mobile numbers using the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application. The platform allows users to verify all connections registered under their identity, report unrecognized numbers, and block stolen or lost handsets. Officials highlighted that public vigilance combined with strict regulatory enforcement is crucial to securing India's digital communications ecosystem.