""Spoofed/ Tampered IMEIs in telecom network leads to situation where same IMEI is working in different devices at different places simultaneously and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs," according to the announcement. "India has [a] big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them."
"The app does those jobs by allowing users to report incoming calls or messages - even on WhatsApp - they suspect are attempts at fraud. Users can also report incoming calls for which caller ID reveals the +91 country code, as India's government thinks that's an indicator of a possible illegal telecoms operator. Users can also block their device if they lose it or suspect it was stolen, an act that will prevent it from working on any mobile network in India."
India has ordered all smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app on every handset sold in the country and complete installation within 90 days while preventing users from removing it. The app, produced by the Department of Telecommunications, lets users report suspected fraud calls or messages including those on WhatsApp, report calls with a +91 caller ID flagged as possibly illegal, block lost or stolen devices from any Indian mobile network, and look up IMEI numbers to verify handset authenticity. The directive aims to reduce pervasive spam and scams and strengthen telecom cybersecurity amid spoofed IMEIs and a large second-hand device market.
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