The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a stern advisory warning citizens and vendors that altering International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers or misusing telecom identifiers is a severe legal offense. Under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, individuals caught tampering with phone identifiers, using fake documents to obtain SIM cards, or spoofing Calling Line Identity (CLI) face up to three years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₹50 lakh.
The government’s heightened crackdown comes in the wake of significant cybercrime busts across the country. Earlier in 2026, the Delhi Police dismantled an organized criminal syndicate that defrauded citizens of nearly ₹100 crore by constantly rotating IMEI numbers and utilizing SIM boxes to impersonate government officials. To date, enforcement agencies have blocked over 15 lakh fraudulent SIM cards and nearly 6 lakh tampered IMEIs linked to cybercrime networks, thwarting estimated financial scams worth more than ₹11,000 crore.
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An IMEI is a unique 15-digit code that acts as a digital fingerprint for mobile hardware, allowing network providers to trace calls, text messages, and data traffic back to specific devices. Criminal syndicates frequently overwrite these codes using illegal software or hardware modifications, making stolen or unauthorized devices appear legitimate. Fraudsters also deploy multi-slot SIM boxes to route international traffic as local calls or manipulate CLI details to fool victims into trusting fraudulent communications.
Under Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, offences related to identifier tampering are classified as cognizable and non-bailable under Section 42(7). Furthermore, Section 42(6) ensures that individuals who abet, promote, or facilitate identifier manipulation—including those who loan or sell registered SIM cards to unauthorized parties—face identical criminal liabilities. The DoT emphasized that subscribers remain legally responsible for any illegal activity traced back to SIM cards issued under their names.
To protect consumers from illicit handsets, the government is urging citizens to utilize the official Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application. Available on Android and iOS, the platform enables users to verify device authenticity, check manufacturer details against 15-digit IMEI codes prior to purchasing second-hand phones, and report suspicious telecommunication activity directly to authorities.
