Govt asks Jio, Airtel, Idea to block 28,000 phones, verify 20 lakh numbers

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has instructed major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, to block 28,200 mobile handsets allegedly linked to cyber crimes. This action comes as part of a broader effort to combat the misuse of telecom resources in cyber crimes and financial frauds.

“Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and State Police have joined hands for curbing the misuse of telecom resources in cyber-crime and financial frauds,” said an official statement.

It also said that this “collaborative effort aims to dismantle networks of fraudsters and protect citizens from digital threats.”


Collaborative Effort to Combat Misuse
The DoT, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and State Police have collaborated to tackle the misuse of telecom resources. This joint effort aims to dismantle networks of fraudsters and protect citizens from digital threats.

Immediate Reverification of 20 Lakh Mobile Connections
In addition to blocking the mobile handsets, the telecom companies have been directed to carry out immediate reverification of 20 lakh mobile connections in the country. This step is crucial to ensure that these connections are legitimate and not being used for illicit purposes.

Chakshu Portal and Other Measures
The DoT has been proactive in combating telecom fraud. In March, it launched the Chakshu portal to handle telecom fraud-related grievances. Since then, the department has blacklisted 52 entities involved in sending malicious and phishing SMSes.

Strict Actions Against Misuse
The DoT has also blocked 348 mobile handsets across the country and flagged 10,834 suspected mobile numbers for re-verification. Additionally, 1.58 lakh unique mobile device identification numbers (IMEIs) have been blocked due to involvement in cyber crimes and financial frauds or for being associated with mobile connections taken on fake or forged documents.

Disconnection of Mobile Connections
Till April 30 this year, the DoT has disconnected 1.66 crore mobile connections. Of these, 30.14 lakh were disconnected based on users' feedback, and 53.78 lakh were disconnected for exceeding the individual limit to buy new SIM cards.

This crackdown by the DoT underscores the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of telecom users in the country.

(With inputs from TOI)