Telecom Alert SIM Misuse Can Make You a Criminal Act Now to Stay Safe

What You Need to Know

• If a SIM card issued in your name is used for cyber-fraud, you can be charged as an offender, even if you didn’t use it.

• Penalties for telecom-related fraud can go up to ₹50 lakh, along with possible arrest.

• You must check all SIM cards issued with your identity using the Sanchar Saathi TAFCOP portal.

• Staying proactive can prevent major financial and legal consequences.

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India is seeing a spurt in cases of cyber-fraud, and shockingly, even unaware citizens are being dragged into legal trouble without their knowledge. Recently, the DoT has issued a serious alert, cautioning that if a SIM issued in your name is used for cybercrime, as per law, you can be treated as an offender. That is, even if someone else misused the SIM or got it issued without your knowledge, since the number is officially registered with your identity, the legal responsibility rests on you. Many people seem to be unaware that losing track of an old SIM card, giving it to someone else, or having their Aadhaar misused for KYC can all lead to criminal charges if that number is found to be involved in fraudulent activity.

The government has also tightened laws around a number of telecom-related offences. An offence like IMEI tampering, fake KYC documentation, or SIM box operations are now defined as non-bailable crimes. The offender, or the person who abets it, can be arrested immediately without the possibility of early bail. Penalties on such offence go up to ₹50 lakh, making it one of the severest sets of telecom laws in the country. IMEI tampering alone is treated as a severe cyber offence often linked with stolen phones, cloned devices, and fraud networks. Similarly, fake KYC during SIM issuance puts both the user and the agent at risk; and SIM box operations used for illegal international call routing have now been placed under strict criminal scrutiny.

This alert matters because millions of people have SIM cards linked to their Aadhaar, which they no longer use or even recognize. Cybercriminals often acquire SIM cards through unauthorized KYC, misplaced documents, cloned identities or fake registrations. When such numbers are used to commit UPI scams, fraud calls, loan frauds, sextortion or phishing operations, the first person the authorities approach is the registered owner. Innocent users often find it hard to prove that they are not at fault, and that is why the government has called for the immediate verification of all SIM cards registered under a user's identity.

To help citizens stay safe, the government has introduced the Sanchar Saathi portal, a powerful digital platform designed to protect users from identity misuse. Through the portal's TAFCOP feature, anyone can check all active mobile numbers issued using their Aadhaar in an instant. If any unknown or suspicious number appears in the list, users can report it or request its deactivation instantly. The Sanchar Saathi portal also allows people to check whether their phone's IMEI number is genuine in the CEIR section, whether their device was ever reported stolen, and even block or unblock a device in case it gets lost. Citizens will be able to check both the SIMs and the IMEIs to ensure that their telecom identity is not being misused. In the digital world today, securing your identity is no more an option.

The government recommends that every mobile user visit the Sanchar Saathi portal and check their linked SIM cards and devices before any misuse takes place. Even one unauthorized SIM in your name can lead to serious legal consequences. Equally important, it is not advisable to share copies of Aadhaar, OTPs, or eKYC information with unidentified people, especially at local SIM shops or agents promising to facilitate upgrades of SIMs. Many scams begin with unsuspecting users handing over their identity documents to strangers. Cyber fraud laws in India have become extremely strict to protect users, but at the same time, they place responsibility on every citizen to keep their telecom identity secure.

One compromised SIM, one tampered device, or one fake KYC entry is good enough to put a completely innocent person behind the bars or to make them pay heavy fines. It just takes a few minutes to check your linked SIMs and IMEI on Sanchar Saathi, which saves you from massive legal and financial trouble in the times to come. Staying alert and verifying your telecom details is now more important than ever.