New Delhi, Sept. 21: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a nationwide advisory cautioning citizens against the misuse of SIM cards and telecom identifiers, warning that offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 can attract up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of as much as ₹50 lakh.
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The advisory comes after authorities uncovered a fraudulent SIM activation racket in Chhattisgarh, where mobile connections were allegedly issued using people’s identity documents without their knowledge or consent.
Chhattisgarh SIM Fraud Triggers Action
According to the DoT, a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh illegally activated 25 SIM cards using citizens’ identity documents without their authorisation.
Following the discovery, the department worked with telecom service providers to blacklist the agent, permanently barring the outlet from issuing new mobile connections.
Digital Intelligence Platform Detects Suspicious Numbers
The 25 mobile numbers were analysed through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), a DoT-developed system that monitors suspicious telecom activity.
Authorities carried out re-verification of the identified connections, and SIM cards that failed the verification process were subsequently deactivated.
Serious Penalties Under Telecommunications Act
The DoT reiterated that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers are punishable offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The department warned that those found guilty could face imprisonment of up to three years along with financial penalties that may extend to ₹50 lakh.
Citizens Urged to Stay Vigilant
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the use of fraudulent mobile connections in cybercrime, financial fraud and other illegal activities.
As digital services and mobile connectivity continue to expand across the country, the DoT has urged citizens to remain vigilant about the use of their identity documents and to comply with telecom verification norms to help safeguard communication networks.