Key Highlights

  • Why now: India has disconnected over 82 lakh fraudulent mobile connections, many obtained using other people’s identities.
  • Your tool: The government’s Sanchar Saathi app has been downloaded about 25 million times.
  • Check your SIMs: See all mobile numbers registered under your ID and report ones you don’t recognise.
  • Report scams: Flag suspicious calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages.
  • Lost your phone? Block it so it cannot be misused.

Many phone scams start with a SIM card registered in someone else’s name. The fraudster stays hidden, and the person whose identity was used may never know. The government recently said it has disconnected over 82 lakh such fraudulent connections, and Indians lost more than ₹22,800 crore to fraud in 2024 alone.

The Sanchar Saathi app, available on Android and iOS and as a web portal, lets you protect yourself in a few minutes.

What You Can Do on Sanchar Saathi

Feature What it helps you do
Know Mobile Connections in Your Name See every number registered against your ID and report unknown ones
Chakshu Report suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages
Block Lost/Stolen Mobile Block a lost or stolen phone so it can’t be used on any network
Know Your Mobile Handset Check whether a phone’s IMEI is genuine before buying a used device
Report International Calls With Indian Numbers Flag calls that show an Indian number but come from abroad

How to Check SIMs in Your Name

  1. Download the Sanchar Saathi app or visit the official Sanchar Saathi portal.
  2. Log in using your mobile number and the OTP sent to it.
  3. Open the option to view mobile connections registered in your name.
  4. Review the list. If you see a number you don’t use, mark it as “Not mine” or “Not required” to report it.

How to Report a Scam Call or Message (Chakshu)

  1. Open the Chakshu option in the app.
  2. Choose the medium (call, SMS or WhatsApp) and the type of fraud.
  3. Enter the number and details, attach a screenshot if possible, and submit.

If You’ve Lost Your Phone

Use the Block Lost/Stolen Mobile option with your phone’s IMEI number and a police complaint copy. This blocks the device so it cannot be misused.

Why It Matters: Citizens Are the First Line of Defence

The government’s anti-fraud system works in layers, from blocking spoofed calls to AI tools that catch fake SIMs. But every report from a citizen adds information that helps catch fraud networks faster. Checking your SIMs takes only minutes and can stop your identity from being used in a scam.

Remember

  • There is no “digital arrest.” No police or government agency arrests or demands money over a video call.
  • Familiar voice, strange request? AI can clone voices. Call the person back on a known number.
  • Already lost money? Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 immediately.

The Bottom Line

Scammers rely on SIMs that can’t be traced to them. A quick check on Sanchar Saathi ensures none of those SIMs are in your name.

With inputs from IANS.