The Government has found 18,000 mobile phones having fake identity numbers. The fifteen-digit number, called International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), is supposed to be unique to each handset. This enables security and law enforcement agencies to pinpoint the actual user.
However, handsets sold in the grey market do not come with this identity number — a matter of concern for security agencies, especially because most of the handsets are brought into the country from China or Taiwan.
“At present, it is difficult to differentiate between the original handset and the duplicated one with same IMEI. But the Department of Telecom is examining the issue,” Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said in the Rajya Sabha.
The DoT, on April 29, 2009, had directed that calls from mobile handsets with fake identity numbers should not be processed. The Ministry of Commerce has already banned import of mobile handsets without IMEI.
But, despite these measures, import of unbranded Chinese handsets has grown four-fold in three years from 5.5 million in 2007-08, according to the Indian Cellular Association. The industry body has been asking the Government for stricter action against fake phones.
But the ban imposed by the Government on offering mobile services to handsets without a genuine IMEI number remains mostly on paper. That is because operators continue to offer services to users owning handsets even without the identity number.
ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in
Keywords: fake identity numbers in mobile phones, International Mobile Equipment Identity, SECURITY CONCERNS
Comments:
Good news , but sir you should have mentioned how to find 15 digit No. your readers could check their mobile .
Indian laws appear to come into force after a serious crime rather than being proactive with strong deterrence to criminals. Is importing or bringing in to the country mobile phones with fake IMEI numbers illegal? Is the processing of calls from mobile handsets with fake identity numbers illegal? Are the exporting companies blacklisted from other exports? Are the punishments more than token fines?
My prepaid connections taken from Tata Indicom more than 7 years ago
are showing bogus name and address in the records of the company.
After submitting all genuine documents we got the connection . But
after several years it apears that the company is altering our history
and is recording bogus identities which are imaginary and illusory. I
was surprised and disgusted. Last year for rectification I submitted
fresh documents. Now I see that another number is having same
problem. It was under my name for over 7 years but now it shows a
bogus name as owner. That is why Tata Indicom statement does not show
name and address of SIM holder. I brought this to company notice as
well as to DOT. But no one bothers. As if this is very common a
feature. This is a mischief played by company and should be banned by
Govt. Action should be taken whenever somebody reports. Neither TRAI
not DOT entertains my complaints nor responds. What can one do in
such a situation ?
M Krishna Rao
08Sept2012
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