Check if someone else is using a SIM card registered in your name; otherwise, you could face a fine..

If you have obtained a SIM card in your name and handed it over to a friend, a distant relative, or a stranger—or if you simply forgot about a SIM card after using your ID to purchase it—then this news is for you. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a stern warning. If any illicit activity is carried out using a SIM registered in your name, the legal consequences will be severe enough to make even the toughest individuals break into a sweat.

In an advisory issued on September 21, the DoT made it clear that there will be no leniency for those who fraudulently obtain SIM cards, tamper with telecom identities, or alter mobile IMEI numbers. Under the new telecom act, such offenses can attract a hefty fine of up to ₹50 lakh and imprisonment for up to three years.
Do not give a SIM registered in your name to anyone else.

According to a CNBC report, the Department of Telecommunications has warned against letting anyone else use a SIM card registered in your name. This is because if any cybercrime or illegal activity is committed using that SIM, the police will not initially look for the person actually using it; instead, they will come straight to your doorstep, as the SIM is registered in your name.

The ‘SIM Scandal’ in Chhattisgarh: The Catalyst
This strict stance follows a major cyber fraud case that recently came to light. A SIM card vendor in Chhattisgarh orchestrated a massive scam: when customers visited him to buy a SIM, he would take their identity proof (ID) and—without the customers' knowledge—rapidly activate another 25 mobile connections using that same ID.

When the DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform detected this fraud, immediate action was taken. In collaboration with telecom companies, the unscrupulous agent was blacklisted. All those 25 numbers were investigated and, upon being found fraudulent, were permanently deactivated.

Check which SIM cards are registered in your name from the comfort of your home:
Now, the biggest question is: how do you know if someone else is using a SIM card issued against your ID? The government has made this process very simple:
Use the 'Sanchar Saathi' portal: Visit the government’s 'Sanchar Saathi' portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in). Log in by entering your mobile number. You will then see a list of all the numbers currently active under your name (ID).

Block fraudulent numbers immediately: If you spot any number in the list that you did not obtain or do not recognize, submit a request to block it right away.

Check your phone's IMEI as well: The same portal also offers a feature called 'Check Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset.' By entering your phone's IMEI number here, you can verify whether your mobile is genuine (this provides details regarding the brand, model, and manufacturer).

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