Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
A SIM card activated in your name without your knowledge — discovered through a telecom bill you don’t recognize, a suspicious call from your carrier, or simply by checking proactively — is a serious identity-fraud risk, since it can be used to intercept OTPs and take over your bank accounts and other online services. Here’s exactly how to check, block it, and report it.
The government’s Sanchar Saathi portal includes the TAFCOP (Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection) feature specifically for this. Visit sancharsaathi.gov.in, enter your 10-digit mobile number and the captcha, then verify with the OTP sent to that number — the portal lists every mobile connection currently registered against your identity.
On sancharsaathi.gov.in, enter your mobile number, complete the captcha, and verify with OTP — this shows every SIM connection linked to your identity, free of charge.
For each unrecognized connection listed, select “This is not my number” — your own genuine service remains completely unaffected by this action.
You’ll receive a ticket ID for tracking — the flagged connection is sent to its operator for re-verification, with outgoing services suspended within 30 days, incoming within 45 days, and full disconnection within 60 days if it fails re-verification.
If the fake SIM was used for any financial fraud or to intercept OTPs for your accounts, file at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
Review and, where possible, update the recovery phone number on your banking apps, email, and social media accounts, since a fake SIM is often set up specifically to intercept OTPs for these.
Sanchar Saathi also brings together CEIR (for blocking a lost/stolen phone by IMEI) and Chakshu (for reporting suspected fraud communications) under the same portal — worth a quick check of these too if your identity documents may have been broadly compromised, not just for the SIM issue alone.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| One extra, unrecognized connection, no fraud detected yet | Flag it on TAFCOP as a precaution; monitor your accounts closely |
| An unrecognized connection plus signs of OTP interception or account takeover | Flag it AND file on cybercrime.gov.in immediately — treat as active fraud |
| Multiple unfamiliar connections across different circles/states | This suggests broader identity document misuse — also check Aadhaar authentication history |
No. Checking on TAFCOP/Sanchar Saathi and reporting on cybercrime.gov.in are both completely free.
Yes — this is a self-service portal process. A lawyer becomes relevant only if the fake SIM was used to commit significant financial fraud against you and formal legal action is needed.
Need professional legal help with this?
Find a Lawyer on VidyodayIf you found this because of a broader pattern of unauthorized OTPs or account access, this could point to targeted SIM swap fraud rather than incidental misuse — see our guide on SIM swap fraud for the more serious version of this problem. For the general identity-theft framework, see our pillar guide on identity theft in India.
Yes — checking your registered connections on Sanchar Saathi’s TAFCOP feature requires only OTP verification and no payment of any kind.
No — your own genuine connection remains completely untouched; only the flagged, unrecognized connection goes through re-verification.
Outgoing services are suspended within 30 days if re-verification fails, incoming within 45 days, and full disconnection follows within 60 days.
Flag it anyway — “This is not my number” or “Not required” are both safe options with no downside, and the operator’s re-verification process will sort out any genuine ambiguity.
Yes, particularly if it’s used to intercept OTPs — this is one of the more serious risks and a reason to check your accounts for unfamiliar activity right away.
CEIR helps block a lost or stolen phone by its IMEI number, and Chakshu lets you report suspected fraud communications — both are related but separate tools on the same portal.
It’s a reasonable precaution if you suspect any compromise of your existing SIM or its associated PIN, alongside checking TAFCOP.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Telecom regulations and portal features can change — verify current guidance on sancharsaathi.gov.in before relying on this for a real situation.
