Handing Over Your SIM? You Could Face Legal Action—Here's How to Verify SIMs Registered in Your Name
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a new advisory regarding the misuse of SIM cards. It states that purchasing or selling SIM cards using forged documents, or tampering with a mobile phone's IMEI number, can lead to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
An advisory issued on September 21 urges the public to visit the 'Sanchar Saathi' portal or app to check if any unknown mobile numbers are registered in their names. If they discover any unauthorized SIM cards, they should report them immediately.
This warning follows a major cyber fraud case in Chhattisgarh, where a SIM-selling agent allegedly activated 25 SIM cards using customers' identity documents without their knowledge. The DoT has blacklisted the agent and deactivated all the fraudulent numbers after they failed verification checks.
The government has also clarified that legal action can be taken against individuals who purchase SIM cards in their own names and subsequently sell, rent, or hand them over to others for illegal activities. SIM cards obtained using another person's identity—often utilized by fraudsters—are known as "mule SIMs" and are frequently used in cybercrimes.
The advisory further states that altering a phone's IMEI number or using apps and websites to display someone else's number during calls (caller ID spoofing) is illegal and poses a serious threat to national security.
The DoT reminded citizens that an individual can hold up to nine SIM cards in most parts of India, whereas the limit is six in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the Northeastern states.
To strengthen monitoring, telecom companies have been instructed to verify all new SIM card requests through the government's 'Digital Intelligence Platform'. They have until November 30, 2026, to fully upgrade their systems and prevent the activation of SIM cards beyond the prescribed limit.
Simple Steps to Check Mobile Numbers Linked to Your ID
To check for active SIM cards registered in your name, you can use the Government of India's Sanchar Saathi portal or the official TAFCOP website at tafcop.sancharsaathi.gov.in.
Step-by-step process (Online Process)
Open the portal: First, visit the Sanchar Saathi portal or the TAFCOP website directly on your phone or computer.
Enter mobile number: Enter your active mobile number in the box provided on the homepage.
Enter Captcha and request OTP: Enter the Captcha code displayed on the screen and, after clicking 'Validate Captcha', request an OTP (One-Time Password).
Log in: Log in by entering the OTP you received.
View the list of numbers: Upon logging in, a list of all mobile numbers active under your name (or Aadhaar ID) will appear on the screen.