Telcos told to stop sale of pre-activated SIMs

BHUBANESWAR: Alarmed by the use of pre-activated SIM cards by criminals, the state crime branch has asked telecom operators to develop an internal surveillance mechanism to curb the problem.
According to the police, though the department of telecommunications (DoT) banned the sale of pre-activated SIM cards in 2012, miscreants still manage to procure them fraudulently, especially in connivance with some telecom service providers and their distributors.
Additional director general (crime branch) Arun Bothra held a meeting with DoT officials and functionaries of various telecom service providers on Wednesday and asked them to take steps to stop the sale and circulation of pre-activated SIM cards. The crime branch warned that it may slap criminal conspiracy cases against telecom companies if pre-activated SIM cards are seized from criminals.
"Fake or pre-activated SIMs pose a serious threat to our national security apart from affecting individuals. Fake SIM cards were seized in large numbers at different places in the state in the recent past. It has become a matter of grave concern for the enforcement agencies to contain such activities. The DoT conducted verification of SIMs using ASTR software and has hinted that some SIMs with fake identity proofs are still active," a senior police officer said.
The crime branch has issued an advisory for the telecom service providers. The operators were advised to make a call to the Aadhaar-linked phone number while conducting tele-verification. Dealers having permanent shops should only be allowed to sell SIMs.
The service providers were asked to devise a mechanism for the customers to complain about any fake SIM and to get it deactivated. The crime branch suggested that the point of sales who violate the guidelines of SIM activation should be blacklisted.
Operators were asked to create awareness about telecom analytics for fraud and consumer protection (TAFCOP), an initiative by the DoT, to enable customers to verify and ascertain as to how many SIMs are in use in their names with or without their knowledge. The crime branch asked the operators to put in place internal surveillance mechanism on those SIMs which are lying dormant continuously but are being recharged regularly.
"Henceforth, in cases involving bulk seizure of such pre-activated SIMs, the role of all officials concerned of the telecom service providers would be inquired from a conspiracy angle. The service providers should strengthen their internal vigilance system and conduct regular checks and verification. The DoT should regularly alert us against such fraudulent activities," Bothra said.