Sanchar Saathi Portal: Block Lost Phones & Fraud Calls in India

Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric telecom grievance and security portal launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, on 16 May 2023. The portal — accessible at sancharsaathi.gov.in — allows Indian mobile users to block lost or stolen phones, check how many SIM connections are issued in their name, verify the authenticity of a handset, and report suspected fraudulent calls and SMS.

Sanchar Saathi is a cornerstone of India's effort to combat digital fraud, SIM-swap scams, identity theft, and mobile crime in an era of rapid digital payments and telecom penetration.

Sanchar Saathi at a Glance

The Four Core Modules

1. CEIR — Central Equipment Identity Register

Purpose: Block and trace lost or stolen mobile phones by their IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.

How it works:

• Every handset has a unique 15-digit IMEI (visible by dialling *#06#)
• When a phone is lost, the owner files an FIR with the police
• The user visits Sanchar Saathi → CEIR → Block Stolen/Lost Mobile and uploads the FIR
• DoT blocks the IMEI across all Indian telecom networks — the handset becomes unusable in India
• Telecom operators provide location and SIM-change data to the police for tracing
• Upon recovery, the owner can unblock the IMEI through the same portal

Results (as of 2025):

• Over 30 lakh lost/stolen phones reported
• More than 14 lakh phones traced and over 10 lakh successfully recovered via police forces using CEIR

2. TAFCOP — Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection

Purpose: Let citizens check how many mobile connections (SIMs) are registered against their name/Aadhaar.

How it works:

• User visits Sanchar Saathi → Know Mobile Connections in your name
• Enters their 10-digit mobile number and OTP
• Portal displays all mobile numbers registered to that identity document
• User can report any unknown connection — the operator then re-verifies or disconnects

Why it matters:

• A single ID can legally have up to 9 mobile connections (per DoT norms)
• Fraudsters often obtain unauthorised SIMs using stolen documents
• These SIMs are used for cyber fraud, OTP theft, and identity abuse

Results:

• Crores of subscribers have verified their connections; over 2.75 crore unauthorised / excess SIMs disconnected by operators based on TAFCOP inputs.

3. Know Your Mobile (KYM)

Purpose: Verify whether a handset is genuine, duplicate, or already blocked before purchase.

How it works:

• SMS the 15-digit IMEI to 14422, or
• Use the KYM module on Sanchar Saathi portal/app
• Response indicates:
• Valid IMEI and in use — genuine handset
• Already blocked — do not buy
• Duplicate IMEI — counterfeit phone
• IMEI not in database — caution advised

4. Chakshu — Report Suspected Fraud Communications

Launched on 4 March 2024 as an additional module.

Purpose: Let citizens report suspected fraudulent calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages — including KYC scams, impersonation, fake job offers, courier/parcel frauds, and digital arrest scams.

How it works:

• User visits Sanchar Saathi → Chakshu
• Selects the communication medium (Call / SMS / WhatsApp)
• Enters the suspected number, date and time, category of fraud, and screenshot/description
• DoT investigates and initiates blocking or legal action
• An OTP from the complainant's number is used to authenticate the report

Categories covered:

• Bank / KYC expiry fraud
• Gas / electricity disconnection calls
• Government officer impersonation
• Sextortion, romance scams
• Customs / courier parcel fraud
• Lottery / prize / lucky draw
• Digital arrest scams

Additional Modules

Report Incoming International Calls with Indian Numbers

Fraudsters spoof Indian mobile numbers while calling from abroad. This module lets users report suspicious international calls displaying Indian numbers.

Track Reported Mobile

Users can track the status of any CEIR / Chakshu report filed earlier.

Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) and DND

Related DoT-driven features — such as Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) and Do Not Disturb (DND 2.0) — are being integrated into the Sanchar Saathi ecosystem.

Sanchar Saathi Mobile App

In 2025, DoT launched the Sanchar Saathi mobile application on Android and iOS, pre-installed / available across app stores. The app provides:

• All web portal functionalities
• One-click reporting of suspected spam calls
• Direct integration with the user's call log and SMS inbox (with user consent)
• Faster IMEI blocking and unblocking

The app's pre-installation on new smartphones was notified by DoT in early 2025 — though this faced concerns over user choice and was later made opt-in.

How to Use Sanchar Saathi: Step-by-Step

To Block a Lost / Stolen Phone (CEIR)

1. File FIR with the local police; keep a digital copy
2. Visit sancharsaathi.gov.in → CEIR → Block Stolen/Lost Mobile
3. Fill details — IMEI, device model, SIM number, date of loss, FIR copy
4. Enter OTP on any contact number
5. Note the Request ID for tracking
6. Your phone will be blocked across networks within 24 hours

To Check Connections in Your Name (TAFCOP)

1. Visit Sanchar Saathi → Know Mobile Connections in your name
2. Enter mobile number + captcha → enter OTP
3. Review list of connections
4. For any number not taken by you: select "Not my number" → the operator disconnects it within 15–30 days

To Report a Fraud Call/SMS (Chakshu)

1. Visit Sanchar Saathi → Chakshu
2. Choose medium (Call/SMS/WhatsApp) + category
3. Enter suspected number + date/time + screenshot
4. Verify with OTP
5. Track status using Request ID

Integration and Backend

Sanchar Saathi is integrated with:

• All Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) — Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL/MTNL
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) — for Aadhaar-based verification
• I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) and National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) for cyber fraud cases
• State police for lost-phone tracing
• AI-based subscriber verification (ASTR) for fake document detection

Achievements (Cumulative, 2023–2025)

• 2.75 crore+ unauthorised mobile connections disconnected
• 30 lakh+ lost/stolen phones reported; 10 lakh+ recovered
• Lakhs of fraudulent numbers blocked via Chakshu
• Thousands of fake KYC SIM outlets shut down
• Significant reduction in OTP and cyber fraud traceability gap

Challenges and Criticism

• Low awareness in rural and semi-urban India
• Digital literacy barriers for elderly and non-English users
• Pre-installation controversy on the mobile app
• Jurisdictional delays between DoT, police, and operators for CEIR tracing
• Privacy concerns around AI-based subscriber verification
• Handset manufacturers' occasional IMEI cloning issues

Sanchar Saathi and the Telecommunications Act, 2023

The Telecommunications Act, 2023, which repealed the colonial Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, gives explicit statutory backing to:

• Biometric-based subscriber verification
• Interception, suspension, and blocking of communications
• Penalties for SIM fraud and identity misuse (up to Rs. 50 lakh fine and 3 years imprisonment)

Sanchar Saathi is the operational interface for many provisions of this Act.

UPSC Relevance

GS2 (Governance): Citizen services, digital governance, consumer protection, e-governance.

GS3 (Internal Security / Economy): Cyber security, financial fraud, telecom regulation, digital economy.

GS3 (Science & Tech): AI use in telecom (ASTR), digital public infrastructure (DPI).

Key Prelims facts:

• Portal launched: 16 May 2023
• Launched by: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications
• URL: sancharsaathi.gov.in
• Core modules: CEIR, TAFCOP, Know Your Mobile, Chakshu
• CEIR = Central Equipment Identity Register — blocks by IMEI
• TAFCOP = Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection
• Chakshu launched: 4 March 2024
• IMEI check code: *#06# (15-digit number)
• KYM SMS shortcode: 14422
• Max SIMs per ID: 9
• Related law: Telecommunications Act, 2023
• Mobile app launched: 2025