New Rules for SIM Cards! Find Out What Action Will Be Taken If a Fraudulent SIM Is Found in Your Name

New rules regarding SIM cards have come into effect nationwide starting today. An individual will no longer be issued more than nine mobile numbers. If a fraudulent SIM is active in your name, it is advisable to report it immediately.A new system regarding mobile SIM cards has been implemented today, August 24, 2026. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed telecom companies not to issue a new SIM to an individual if they have already reached the prescribed limit of mobile connections. In most parts of the country, the maximum limit is nine mobile connections per person, whereas in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and certain North-Eastern regions, the limit is six. The government has introduced this measure to curb the use of fraudulent SIMs. However, the question arises: what action will the government take against an individual if a fraudulent SIM is found in their name?Why Is a Fraudulent SIM in Your Name a Risk?Consider a scenario where you never purchased a specific SIM, yet it is active in your name using your Aadhaar or other documents. Such a situation should not be taken lightly. Fraudulent SIMs can be used for cyber fraud, scam calls, OTP-related crimes, or other illegal activities.Furthermore, a major issue could be that official records show the mobile connection linked to your name. Therefore, you should periodically check how many mobile numbers are active in your name.First, Check How Many Numbers Are Registered in Your NameThe government provides a facility that allows you to check how many mobile numbers are currently active in your name. You can use the TAFCOP facility available on the government’s ‘Sanchar Saathi’ service for this purpose. By logging in with your mobile number, you can view details of the connections issued in your name.If the list displays a number that you never obtained or no longer use, there is also a facility to report it. Upon receiving a report, the telecom operator investigates the matter and takes necessary action.What to do if a fraudulent SIM is foundIf you notice an unfamiliar mobile number registered in your name, first note down the details. Then, report the number via the Sanchar Saathi/TAFCOP portal. In the report, you must clearly state that the number does not belong to you.Additionally, if you have an old SIM that is no longer in use, it is best to have it deactivated. This reduces the number of unnecessary mobile connections registered in your name and ensures you face no issues when obtaining a new connection in the future.Action taken upon exceeding the 9-SIM limitThe government has clarified that, effective August 24, no new mobile connections will be issued to customers who have already reached the limit of nine connections. Even if you hold SIMs from different companies, the limit will not increase, as a total of nine connections will already appear as active under your name.However, please note that if a fraudulent SIM is found registered in your name, it will be immediately deactivated. If such a SIM is not deactivated and the number is used in a cybercrime, the police may question you directly. Therefore, if a fraudulent SIM is active in your name, report it immediately.The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed telecom companies to identify such customers using the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP). Furthermore, the system will soon be capable of performing real-time verification.