88K mobiles blocked in Mumbai in eight months following complaints

Satyam Singh, ADG Security, DoT, addresses students at KJ Somaiya Engineering College in Ghatkopar on Wednesday

The Mumbai Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has blocked approximately 88,353 mobile devices in the past eight months after receiving complaints and working in collaboration with the police. The DoT has also traced and returned 3,535 IMEI mobile devices to their rightful owners. This information was shared during a programme held at Ghatkopar's KJ Somaiya Engineering College on November 1.

The DoT has received 2,874,911 complaints related to unused SIM cards purchased in the past. Out of these, 2,204,730 have been resolved, resulting in the permanent disconnection of the SIM cards. The programme, which focused on cyber awareness and digital hygiene, saw the participation of 200 students in the college auditorium. It was organised by DoT ADG Security Satyam Singh, who provided detailed knowledge on how to stay safe from cyber fraud.

Speaking with mid-day, Singh emphasised the importance of reporting lost or stolen mobile phones to the police, as failure to do so increases the risk of misuse. He advised people to file complaints on the Sanchar Saathi website and provide their IMEI numbers to help the Mumbai police trace their missing devices. If the numbers cannot be found, they will be blocked to prevent further misuse.

Singh revealed that since March 1 of this year, 88,353 mobile devices reported stolen or missing in Mumbai have been blocked. Across India, a total of 994,281 IMEI numbers have been blocked, with 431,671 IMEI numbers successfully traced. He also mentioned that the Mumbai police have made several arrests related to mobile device theft.

The awareness programme highlighted various cyber frauds that are prevalent on social media platforms, including scams involving fake Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers, sextortion, KYC update fraud, fake online purchase websites, lottery withdrawal scams, phishing emails, social media funds, mobile tower fraud, digital loan scams and matrimonial/romance scams. Singh stressed the importance of awareness to avoid falling victim to these frauds. The objective of the programme was to equip students with the knowledge to protect themselves and seek help when needed.

The DoT also informed students about their right to file complaints against cell phone towers installed near their homes if they believe they are affecting their health. The DoT's team will personally inspect the towers, and if they find high radiation levels, a fine of R20 lakh will be imposed to ensure public safety. However, according to a report by the DoT, no fines have been imposed on any tower in the past five years.

The DoT's field unit has been observing vigilance awareness week from October 30 to November 5. The awareness program was organised as part of the initiative.

To report financial fraud, the public can call 1930 or lodge a complaint on the Cyber Crime Portal. Citizens can also visit https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/ to block IMEI numbers for stolen or lost phones and check the number of mobile connections active under their ID.

The programme shed light on the myths surrounding electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, the standards set by the DoT and the penalties for violating these standards. The Citizen-Centric portal, CPGRAMS-Home (pgportal.gov.in), which allows the public to lodge complaints regarding government-provided services, was also discussed.

The event was led by Ajay Kamal (DDG administration) and S R Udayashree (joint CCA) Mumbai Licensed Service Area (LSA), with Singh delivering the presentation. They were assisted by the team comprising Anil Hule (JTO), Biji Raghvan (JTO), Deepak Mahajan (JTO) and Uday (consultant) from the Mumbai LSA.

200
No of students who attended event