The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday, 31 August issued a stern advisory warning citizens that tampering with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, or using mobile devices with unauthorised or modified telecommunication identifiers, is a punishable offence carrying up to three years in prison, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both. The warning comes as mobile connectivity and digital services continue to expand rapidly across India, with the government flagging misuse of telecom identifiers as a growing threat to citizen safety and network integrity.

Legal Framework Behind the Warning

The DoT grounded its advisory firmly in the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Under Section 42(3)(c) of the Act, tampering with telecommunication identifiers is explicitly prohibited. Section 42(3)(e) further bars individuals from obtaining Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) or telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating, or impersonation.

Critically, offences under these provisions are classified as cognizable and non-bailable under Section 42(7) of the Act — meaning police can arrest without a warrant. Under Section 42(6), individuals who abet or facilitate such offences face the same penalties as the primary offender.

What Citizens Have Been Warned Against

The department issued a broad list of prohibited activities. Citizens have been advised not to use, procure, or assemble modems, modules, SIM boxes, or other equipment with configurable or tampered IMEI numbers. Obtaining SIM cards using fake documents, fraud, cheating, or impersonation is also prohibited.

Notably, the DoT extended liability to SIM card holders who transfer, sell, lend, or hand over SIM cards registered in their own name to others who subsequently misuse them. If a SIM procured in one's name is used for cyber fraud or other unlawful activities, the original subscriber could face legal consequences. The advisory also cautioned against using mobile applications, websites, or other tools to modify Calling Line Identity (CLI) or other telecom identifiers.

The Sanchar Saathi Connection

To help citizens protect themselves, the DoT pointed to the government's Sanchar Saathi initiative, which allows users to verify the IMEI details of their mobile handsets — including associated brand, model, and manufacturer information. The platform serves as a first line of defence for consumers looking to confirm whether a device is legitimate before purchase or use.

Why This Advisory Matters Now

This is not an isolated warning. The advisory comes amid a broader government crackdown on telecom fraud, SIM cloning, and cyber crime networks that routinely exploit tampered devices and fraudulently obtained SIM cards. Law enforcement agencies have flagged IMEI manipulation as a common technique used in organised cyber fraud, making the DoT's move a significant step in closing a long-standing regulatory gap. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 itself replaced the decades-old Indian Telegraph Act, and its stricter identifier-tampering provisions represent a deliberate legislative upgrade for the digital age.