If you suspect a fraudulent SIM is operating under your name, there's no need to worry. The government's Sanchar Saathi portal provides an easy tool that allows you to find out how many SIMs are registered in your name within minutes.
Tech News: Amidst the increasing cases of digital fraud and cybercrimes in the country, SIM card fraud has now become a serious concern. In many instances, multiple SIM cards have been found active under people's names without their knowledge, used for deception or other illegal activities. In response, the government has provided citizens with an easy way to check their mobile connection information themselves — through the Sanchar Saathi portal.
Operated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), this portal helps citizens find out how many mobile numbers are registered under their name or Aadhaar card. This facility is named TAFCOP (Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection), which aims to enhance transparency and user security in the telecom sector.
Why is SIM Fraud Increasing?
In recent years, there has been an alarming increase in online identity theft and cyber fraud associated with mobile numbers. Scammers often misuse an individual's Aadhaar or personal details to activate new SIM cards.
Such SIM cards are utilized for phishing, fake loan calls, OTP fraud, or other financial scams. Often, the victim only discovers this when a number registered in their name has already been used in a crime.
What Do Government Rules State?
The Government of India made it mandatory a few years ago to link mobile numbers with Aadhaar to enable the tracking of any user's identity.
- A maximum of 9 SIM cards can be active under one person's name.
- For Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the Northeastern states, this limit is restricted to 6 SIM cards.
If more SIM cards than the prescribed limit are active under an individual's name, the DoT automatically sends a notification.
How to Check SIM Cards Using the Sanchar Saathi Portal
By visiting the government's Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in), you can easily find out how many mobile numbers are registered under your name.
Step-by-step process:
- Open sancharsaathi.gov.in in your browser.
- Navigate to the ‘Citizen Centric Services’ section on the homepage.
- Click on the ‘Know Your Mobile Connections’ option there.
- Now, enter your 10-digit mobile number and the captcha code.
- An OTP (One Time Password) will be sent to your mobile — enter it.
Now, a complete list of all active mobile numbers linked to your Aadhaar or other ID will be displayed on the screen.
What to Do If You Find Any Suspicious Number?
If you find a mobile number that isn't yours or one you don't use, there's no need to panic. You can easily report it directly within the portal —
- Click on ‘Not My Number’ to have that number blocked.
- For an old or disconnected number, select the ‘Not Required’ option.
As soon as you file a complaint, the concerned telecom company investigates the number and deactivates it after confirmation.
