DBT Bureau
Pune, 3 Dec 2025
The rapid rise in mobile usage across India has also led to an increase in cyber fraud, phone theft, and unauthorized use of telecom services, creating an urgent need for a reliable verification and protection system. With millions of users relying on mobile phones for financial transactions, communication, and official identification, safeguarding device authenticity and preventing misuse has become more critical than ever.
To address these growing threats, the government required a centralized digital platform that could empower citizens to verify their devices, track fraudulent activities, and protect themselves from telecom-based crimes. The Sanchar Saathi App fulfills this need by offering tools that enhance transparency, promote user awareness, and help prevent criminals from exploiting mobile networks for illegal activities.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is undertaking Sanchar Saathi initiative for curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security. DoT has developed Sanchar Saathi portal & App which enables citizens to check genuineness of a mobile handset through the IMEI number along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraud communications, lost/ stolen mobile handsets, check mobile connections in their name, trusted contact details of banks/ financial institutions.
The TCS Rules empowers the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number. The Rules also mandates that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules.
Mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI poses serious endangerment to telecom cyber security. Spoofed/ Tampered IMEIs in telecom network leads to situation where same IMEI is working in different devices at different places simultaneously and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs. India has big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them. The blocked/blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using Sanchar Saathi App.
Sanchar Saathi mobile app can be downloaded to access various services designed to keep your phone and personal data safe and secure.
