The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has blocked 10,296 mobile phones and 6.76 lakh SIM cards in Gujarat. Nationally, the DoT has blocked 1.92 crore SIM cards and 2.2 lakh mobile phones with specific IMEI numbers.
As of February 2024, India’s total telecom subscriber base stood at 119.7 crore.
The DoT’s crackdown targeted SIM cards obtained through fraudulent means, bulk registrations under a single name and photo, issuance of multiple SIM cards to the same person and individuals flagged by central investigative agencies for criminal activities.
Additionally, the government has blocked SMS headers used by cybercriminals to send fraudulent messages. Across India, 32,000 such SMS headers were blocked, including 573 in Gujarat. Among these, 423 were linked to fake instant loan messages and 150 to gambling-related messages.
Also Read: Madhya Pradesh HC Ex-Judge Joins BJP Months After Retirement
