Govt Cracks Down on Telecom Fraud: Blocks 28,000 Phones, Verifies 2 Million Nos

In a move to combat cyber crimes and financial frauds, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed major telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to block 28,200 mobile handsets allegedly involved in such activities. This coordinated action aims to tackle the misuse of telecom resources by criminals.

A joint effort involving the DoT, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and State Police has been initiated to address the misuse of telecom resources. The primary goal is to dismantle networks operated by fraudsters and shield citizens from digital threats.

The telecom operators have been directed not only to block the identified mobile handsets but also to promptly verify 2 million mobile connections across the country. This verification process is crucial to ensure the legitimacy of these connections and prevent their exploitation for illegal purposes.

In its ongoing efforts to combat telecom fraud, the DoT introduced the Chakshu portal in March, dedicated to handling grievances related to such incidents. Since its launch, the department has taken action against 52 entities involved in sending malicious and phishing SMS messages.

The DoT’s proactive measures include the blocking of 348 mobile handsets nationwide and the flagging of 10,834 suspicious mobile numbers for re-verification. Furthermore, 1.58 lakh unique mobile device identification numbers (IMEIs) have been blocked due to their association with cyber crimes, financial frauds, or connections obtained through fake documents.

Up to April 30 this year, the DoT has disconnected a total of 16.6 million mobile connections. Among these, 3.014 million were terminated based on user feedback, while 5.378 million were disconnected for surpassing the individual limit for purchasing new SIM cards.

This crackdown underscores the government’s dedication to safeguarding the safety and security of telecom users across the nation.